Manatee County Government
Manatee names former Island Branch Manager Ava Ehde head of Library Services
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 8, 2011) – Former Anna Maria Island Library Branch Manager Ava Ehde has been selected as Manatee County Library Services Manager with responsibility for the leadership and operations of the five libraries in the system.
- Zoom
- New Library Services Manager Ava Ehde
Ehde has been the supervisor at the Anna Maria Island Library since 2003. Prior to coming to Manatee County, she was the Head of Reference and Systems at D'Youville College Library in Buffalo, N.Y. Ehde earned a bachelor’s degree in History and German and a master’s degree in Information and Library Science from State University of New York at Buffalo where she also served as an adjunct faculty member for four years.
Manatee County Neighborhood Services Director Cheri Coryea said Ehde was selected for her wide range of experience during an extensive career in libraries. Ehde has been employed by the Manatee County Public Library since 2002 and has been the Island Library branch manager since 2003.
"Ms. Ehde brings just the right balance of background and knowledge of the Library Services industry in a time where budget constraints, technology advances and consumer needs are at a high level of flux,” said Cheri Coryea, director of Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department. “We anticipate a smooth transition for her and the current staff with an attention to quality custom service for Manatee County Library patrons."
Previously, Ehde worked as Director of the Rachel R. Savarino Library at Trocaire College, as a local history librarian for Niagara Falls Public Library and as a substitute librarian for the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System.
“I’ve done a little of everything, from technology working as a systems librarian, to cataloguing, circulation, reference, and local history” which helps me better direct, mentor and coach staff,” says Ehde.
Ehde will initially focus on making several personnel decisions where there are vacancies, including hiring her replacement as manager at the Island library.
“I have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm and I’m hoping to infuse that into the Library System and to bring more of a positive and productive direction for the system,” Ehde said. “I’m also very big on customer service, so that’s definitely a top priority.”
Ehde takes over a County Library System that last year accommodated more than 1 million patrons and oversaw more than 2.4 million materials used. During the same year, librarians at the Central Library and five branch libraries answered more than 451,000 reference questions. Volunteers contributed more than 25,000 hours.
For more information on the Manatee County Library System or to browse more than 460,000 volumes, visit www.mymanatee.org/library