Valley Cottage Library Appoints New Director

VALLEY COTTAGE, NY, November 29, 2021 – The Valley Cottage Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Christy Blanchette to the position of Library Director effective January 6, 2022. Over the course of her career, Ms. Blanchette has assumed a variety of supervisory and professional roles at our library, the Library Association of Rockland County, and New City Library. She is currently the Assistant Director of our library, where she actively assists with management of library operations, development of policies, grant-writing, recruitment, compliance, and staff training. As the Director, Ms. Blanchette will manage and direct all operational and professional activities of the library under the administrative supervision and policy direction of the Valley Cottage Library Board of Trustees.

“The Board of Trustees is excited to welcome Christy into her new role of Director. She is a homegrown talent that was groomed under the mentorship and leadership of the current Director, Amelia Kalin. She has demonstrated her dedication and love of our library through her more than 20 years of service. I believe Christy’s experience, relationship with library employees, and enthusiasm for our library make her the leader we need going forward” said Arlette Mooney, President of the Valley Cottage Library Board of Trustees.

Ms. Blanchette said “I am honored to have been selected as the next Director of Valley Cottage Library. I am trained and ready to lead this library toward continued success and growth. I am intimately aware of the challenges that face the library and community and will use this knowledge to inform decision-making to continue to strengthen the library’s roots in our community and thrive in the face of future challenges.”

Ms. Blanchette is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College (BA, English Literature) and Long Island University (MLIS). She holds a Certified Public Library Administrator certificate. She is a long-term resident of Valley Cottage and a goal-oriented athlete who thrives on finding ambitious challenges to test her physical and mental capacity.

About Valley Cottage Library

The Valley Cottage Library, a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), is recognized for its modern, serene architectural design, and has been awarded for its art gallery and its ecologically conscious parking area. We are an association library, providing services to 25,000 residents of the Nyack School District, which includes the hamlet of Valley Cottage (9,000 residents). Located in Rockland County, the library is a community center, operating on a $2.4M budget. The staff of 38 is warm and welcoming, and the community is supportive. The library offers an extensive roster of programs and concerts for children, young adults, and adults. We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion of all ethnic, racial and gender groups in our practices, presentations, and materials.