| New Libraries and Historical Resources Director Renee Di Pilato. |
SARASOTA COUNTY – Renee Di Pilato has been named as the new director of Libraries and Historical Resources, and she is expected to assume the role in July.
Di Pilato has served as the deputy director of the Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Va., since 2014. She has nearly 20 years of professional library management experience, and also currently serves as an adjunct professor of library management at the University of Southern California, a position she’s held since 2017.
She earned a doctorate in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 2016; in 2006, she earned a Master of Arts in Public Administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and in 2002 a Master of Arts in Science, Library and Information Science from Catholic University, in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Di Pilato earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Urban Planning from Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Va.
According to Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, Di Pilato’s experience, education and life-long commitment to literacy made her the ideal choice to lead the department, following the upcoming departure of current director Sarabeth Kalajian.
“Renee is the perfect fit for Sarasota County, as her collaborative and thoughtful approach to providing world-class service and her desire to serve the community made her stand out,” Lewis said.
Di Pilato will be joining Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources prior to Kalajian’s retirement this fall to ensure a smooth transition.
“We went through a thoughtful and deliberate hiring process to find the right person. Renee comes with the experience, dedication and enthusiasm for carrying our library system and historical resources forward,” said Kalajian.
For Di Pilato, being selected is not only an honor, but an important opportunity to continue the innovation that Sarasota County libraries are known for.
“I’m looking forward to furthering all the wonderful accomplishments of library leadership, and building on those successes. Its an honor to join Sarasota County Government,” Di Pilato said.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at www.scgov.net (keywords ADA compliance).