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Cathy Billings, associate library director since 2017, has been named as the City’s new library director, City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe announced Wednesday.
Billings succeeds longtime director Steve Fjeldsted, who retired in June.
Billings has more than 30 years of experience in library science. Prior to joining the South Pasadena team, she served as Senior Library, Arts & Culture Supervisor for the City of Glendale’s art and music library, the Brand Library & Art Center.
“Cathy’s extensive experience and knowledge of the South Pasadena community make her a perfect fit to take over the top library post,” DeWolfe said.
Billings holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Her career has included stints at a nuclear research facility library in Switzerland, the New York-based Center for Fiction, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
“It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead a team of staff who are so inspired by their work and committed to meeting the needs of South Pasadena library users,” Billings said. “I am eager to continue the progress we have made in implementing the recommendations from the Library Operations Study and 2017-2022 Strategic Plan.”
Billings continued: “My goal is to ensure the South Pasadena Public Library continues to be a cornerstone of community life. In the coming months I look forward to further engagement with the individuals and groups that the library serves.”
In her time as associate director, Billings helped implement significant improvements to the South Pasadena Library, including an upgraded public catalog interface, a Facebook page, automated email due-date reminders, new Summer Reading Program software, a new public service desk and new public computer workstations, and a self-check kiosk.
