Library Reads Levels Up and Hires Rebecca Vnuk As Their First Executive Director

I am so glad to finally be able to share this news with everyone. My dear friend, former editor, and overall amazing librarian, Rebecca Vnuk has been hired to be Library Reads’ first Executive Director. Up to this point LR has been run completely by a group of hard working volunteers on the Steering Committee. It is a lot of work and they were doing it all on their free time. 

But now, this move takes Library Reads from simply a list of books to a force in the world of RA Service in general. Please see the official Library Reads Press release here or below for more information. And stay tuned for more from Library Reads and Rebecca in the coming months here on the blog.

I am so excited for Rebecca personally but even more so for Library Reads. The possibilities are now endless and those of us helping readers, and the readers we help, are the lucky beneficiaries.

Rebecca Vnuk Chosen as First LibraryReads Executive Director The LibraryReads Steering Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca Vnuk as the organization’s first Executive Director. LibraryReads Steering Committee chair Stephanie Chase shares, “We could not be more thrilled to welcome Rebecca as the leader of the LibraryReads organization. Her extensive experience, existing relationships, and deep commitment to highlighting and supporting the role that library staff play in matching readers with the right story at the right time comes at the exact time our program is ready for a leader to help us grow and expand.” Rebecca Vnuk comes to LibraryReads well-versed in the alliance between librarians, authors, and publishers after holding the position of Editor for Collection Management and Library Outreach with the American Library Association’s Booklist Publications. She has an MLIS from Dominican University and worked for a decade as a public librarian in the Chicago area, holding a variety of positions from readers’ advisor to adult services management. Rebecca is the author of three reference books on the topic of women’s fiction, as well as a best-selling book on weeding library collections. Rebecca was a 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, the 2010 Public Library Association Allie Beth Martin Award Winner for distinguished Readers’ Advisory Service, and the 2008 Library Journal Fiction Reviewer of the Year. Rebecca states: "I am eager to begin working with the Steering Committee and publishing partners as LibraryReads grows into a dynamic resource for all things readers' advisory. Relationships are of key importance to me, and I look forward to making new connections and building on existing partnerships." Launched in fall 2013 and approaching its fifth anniversary, LibraryReads is a grassroots virtual community, open to all public library staff. At the forefront of LibraryReads’ work is the national “library staff picks list,” featuring 10 adult titles each month that librarians have read, loved, and are eager to share with their patrons. To learn more about LibraryReads and to view the entire archive of top ten lists, visit LibraryReads.org.