Mayor Sean R. Reardon is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Atherton as Acting Head Librarian, effective June 8. Head Librarian Sara Kelso left the Newburyport Public Library on June 7.
“I am confident the Library will be in excellent hands with Jessica,” Reardon said. “Jessica has done excellent work alongside Sara in filling a number of staff vacancies in the last few months, assisting with implementing new Library policies, and continuing to ensure a high level of service to patrons. I know she’ll keep up the strong work in this temporary position.”
The Library Board of Directors is finalizing its search committee and plans to post the Head Librarian position in the coming weeks. The Board, which includes the Mayor and City Council President as Ex Officio members, is the appointing authority for the position.
Atherton has worked at the Newburyport Public Library since August 2012, and currently serves as Assistant Head Librarian. She previously served as Head of the Library’s Reference Department and as a Staff Librarian with Information Services. She has also worked at the Bangor Public Library in Maine, and previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
“I look forward to continuing the good work going on at the NPL and collaborating with to staff to fill the Library’s important role in the community,” Atherton said. “We have so much to offer, and we have an incredible staff here.”
The acting appointment is limited to 90 days, and can be extended twice for 30 days each under the City Charter. The Mayor anticipates that a new Head Librarian will be selected before the acting appointment and allowed extensions expire.