Ridgewood Library Director To Retire, Assistant Director To Succeed Her

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Having dedicated 27 years of service to what is ranked the best public library in Bergen County, Ridgewood Library Director Nancy Greene was honored with a proclamation, declaring her own day in the village on Dec. 14, ahead of her retirement in 2023.

"I want to say how grateful I am, and what a joy it was to work with residents, our staff, our Board, our Friends of the Ridgewood Library (a fundraising nonprofit that supports the library) and our Foundation," Greene said of the proclamation at Wednesday's village council meeting.

Greene, who started serving as the library director in 1995, spearheaded renovation efforts at the facility and worked to get millions of dollars in funds for such projects. She also began many important library services, including English as a Second Language, now serving 120 adults from 30 different countries, according to the proclamation, read aloud by Mayor Susan Knudsen.

The resolution also recounted the library's other accomplishments under Green's leadership, including the Bolger Heritage Center for local history and genealogy, and COVID-19 response to make resources available seven days a week throughout the pandemic.

A friend and a hard worker who cares deeply about the village community, Greene is going to be missed, according to personal remarks made by Knudsen.

"(Ridgewood) thanks (Greene) for her service to the library and its patrons, and wishes her a warm, happy and healthy retirement," said Knudsen, who is on the Library Board of Trustees and said she has known Green for a number of years.

The library's Assistant Director Lorri Steinbacher will step into the director when Green retires on Jan. 1.

"I thank all of you," Greene said. "And I can't wait to come back in the future as a patron and enjoy everything. I know things are only going to get better under our new director."