Glen Rock Public Library Chooses New Director, Betsy Wald

Betsy Wald, the much beloved branch manager of the Hilton library in Maplewood since 2007, is leaving her job.

Why should you care?

Well, Wald is leaving Maplewood to replace as director of the Glen Rock Public Library.

"I'm really excited about using the skills that I've learned [in Maplewood] in another town, another atmosphere, another venue, another community," Wald told Maplewood Patch. "It's an opportunity in a beautiful town in a beautiful library and I'm really excited about it."

Wald starts as library director at Glen Rock on August 29.

Wald started at Maplewood Memorial Library in 1998 (when her daughter was 8), working as a sub and "very part-time." She became a full-time worker in 2003 as a children's librarian at the Main Branch. Eventually she was working as both a children's librarian at Main and a teen librarian — "then the branch manager at Hilton retired and it was an opportunity," said Wald.

Opportunities kept knocking. However, Wald lacked a library sciences degree — although she has extensive education and experience in social work (B.A. from Yale, MSW from Yeshiva and the accomplishment of having founded a job readiness program for battered and otherwise homeless women called First Step for the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City).

"Rowland Bennett, the library director at the time, encouraged me to go to library school." Wald earned her Masters in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Wisconsin, Madison completely online. "It's a very good school with excellent, excellent professors," said Wald. "Everyone at the library was so supportive and so helpful."

Now Wald is ready for a new opportunity and a change of scenery.

While she officially replaces Pelcyger — who left last year — another capable woman, Lori Quinn, has been filling the seat as acting director.

Quinn, who will return to her position as head of circulation, said she planned to meet Wald for the first time today. The library board of directors was in charge of the selection process that chose Quinn.

Stay tuned to Glen Rock Patch for more on your new library director.