Bowie Libraries Welcome New Managers

Seen any new faces at the local library lately? Both of the Prince George’s County Libraries in Bowie have recently welcomed new area managers into the fold. 

Blane Halliday, who’s been working for public libraries for more than 15 years, will be managing the Bowie Branch Library. Halliday has wide range of public library experience, having working in large urban systems small town libraries and suburban library systems, according to a statement released by the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS).

Halliday has worked as a branch manger before, and also has experience as a reference librarian. His interests include, “ non-print media, intellectual freedom, equal access for all library patrons and collection development,” the release states.

He has his master’s degree in library science from Kent State University and is a graduate of the State Library of Florida’s Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute.

Luis Labra, the former manager of the Bowie Branch Library, will now work as the manager of the South Bowie Branch Library. Labra has a long history in the PGCMLS, having started his career as a library associate at the Beltsville Branch Library, where worked while working on his master in library science at Catholic University, according to the PGCMLS.

Labra also worked as a librarian at the New Carrollton Branch Library, as well as serving as assistant branch manger is the Fairfax County Library System and branch manger in the Alexandria Library System. He returned to PGCMLS in 2011 where he was working as area manager of the Bowie Branch Library before his new position as area manager of the South Bowie Branch Library.