Popular Executive Director of the Portland Public Library Retiring Next Year

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Stephen J. Podgajny to Retire Next July.

Stephen J. Podgajny to Retire Next July.

By Carol McCracken  (POst # 2,140)

Stephen J. Podgajny, Executive Director of the Portland Public Library, has tendered his resignation effective July 1, 2015.  Podgajny has served as the Executive Director for the past eight years. Before that, he was Executive Director, of the Curtis Library, Brunswick.  The announcement was made last week by the Portland Public Library Board of Trustees.

“It has been such a privilege and  honor to lead the Library for the past eight years.  It is an enormously important institution, not just to the City of Portland, but also to the region and the State, Podgajny said.  “There is much yet to be done over the next year.  We have a talented and committed staff, a Board that is skilled and energized and a wonderful partnership with the City. I certainly feel a great urgency to help move the institution further ahead in the next year.”

“It is not an exaggeration to say that Stephen Podgajny has transformed the Portland Public Library.  His leadership and passion produced the award-winning renovation of our Main Library, a major restructuring of internal operations through the adoption of a service team approach, the development of new collaborations with other leading cultural organizations in Portland around the State and a deeper partnership with the City of Portland.  There is no replacing a leader like Stephen Podgajny,but we will work very hard to find a worthy successor,” said Eric Althoz, President of the Board of Trustees in a press release.

The Board of Trustees will appoint a Search Committee next month to begin the process of finding a new Executive Director.  Podgajny plans to spend more time on individual pursuits, supporting civic organizations, traveling and occasionally consulting.