Amanda Hirst Named Director Of Public Library Of Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — The Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Brookline has appointed Amanda Hirst as the new director of the Public Library.

Hirst, who will begin her new role on Monday, August 22, will oversee all operations and staff of the town's three library facilities under the direction of the Board of Library Trustees.

For the past 16 years, Hirst has held positions of steadily increasing responsibility within the King County Library System in the state of Washington, following earlier stints in Phoenix and Maricopa County, Arizona.

"We are delighted to welcome Amanda Hirst to Brookline as the new library director. Amanda's extensive experience in Washington and Arizona speaks to her qualifications," Library Trustees Chair Michael A. Burstein said in a statement. "The Board of Trustees was also impressed with her dedication to making our libraries as responsive as possible to our patrons. We are looking forward to working with her as she takes on her new role in Brookline.”

“I am thrilled to be the Library Trustees’ choice for the library director position,” Hirst said in a statement. "Throughout my career, I have sought roles that increased the impact I could have, both within the organization and in the community. Brookline's libraries represent what is best about public libraries today. They are well-cared-for by the staff and well-regarded within the community."

“My goal will be to work in an environment where I can challenge myself and library staff to improve services to library patrons every day,” she continued. To me, this means not only providing the traditional services that library patrons have come to expect but also branching out to inform, connect and even delight our patrons."

Hirst holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati, a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington, and a post-Master’s degree Certificate in Library and Information Science, Leadership & Management Focus from San Jose State University.