Meet Nina Hull, Agoura Library’s New Community Library Manager

Nina Hull has been named the new Community Library Manager for Agoura Hills Library. Hull, formerly the community manager at Westlake Village Library, is taking over for acting manager Sue Yamamoto, who has been over-seeing two L.A. County library branches simultaneously for the past few months, according to Jan Meisels Allen, Publicity Chairperson, Friends of the Agoura Hills Library.

Hull will be the first permanent librarian since Raya Sagi retired in the fall of 2009, according to Allen. Since then, the library has had several interim managers.

“We are delighted to have Nina Hull here,” said Allen. “We are looking forward to having our own permanent Community Library Manager, especially one that is familiar with the area and an Agoura Hills resident.”

Hull has a B.A. in political science from California State University, Northridge, and a Masters in library science from the University of Southern California.

“My first goal is to maintain the level of service [Yamamoto] has accomplished as well as step it up for more involvement,” said Hull. “A manager’s role is to assess the community and find out what their needs are.”

Hull said she would like to see more events involving children, classical music, food education and job help. "Historical figure impersonators might be fun, too." she said.

Hull has been a librarian most of her life in different capacities. She’s worked as a children’s library manager and a reference librarian. She was also a medical librarian for 25 years at the West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs.

Hull said she made her transition from medical to public librarian because of technological advances. “When the internet came into being, physicians could go directly online to get their materials,” she said. "There was not as much of a need for an intermediary.”

Hull said she enjoys working with people and likes that a diverse assortment come into public libraries. “Many bring their iPads and iPods to download ebooks and audio books,” she said.

Hull said she likes to read mysteries. Lately, she’s enjoyed the Wallander Series by Henning Mankell and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

“I can’t think of any librarians that don’t read. I might knock off one or two digitally a week,” she said. “I’ll have a digital book in my ear at home when I’m cleaning.”

Hull and her husband, Richard, manages a family of eight kids. She also cares for dogs, guinea pigs, birds and chickens at her Old Agoura Hills home, where she’s lived for 25 years..

The Agoura Hills Library is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit colapublib.org/libs/agourahills.