Posted by Steve Jones-D'Agostino on Aug 18, 2022

Maria Palacio has made great inroads in outreach and programs and services for new Americans and those without a traditional library background. Maria, who recently became the new director of Acton Memorial Library, was the inspirational keynote speaker during our Club Meeting on August 17.

 

 

Watch the 19-minute presentation by Maria.

Maria came to Acton from Chelmsford, where she had worked as assistant director of outreach services at Chelmsford Public Library. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Montclair State University in New Jersey and her Master of Information Science from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Maria has worked in library services for more than 20 years, in positions of increasing responsibility. While in Florida, she served as branch manager of a 40,000-square-foot-library, then became district manager overseeing the operations of six branches in a system of 13 libraries in southwest FloridaIn 2014, she was honored in Gulf Shore Business magazine’s "40 Under 40" issue. She also represented the United States at a multi-city library conference in Spain sponsored by the United States Embassy in Madrid.

As director of Acton Memorial Library, Maria manages an annual circulation of 525,000 copies, a budget of $1.47 million, and a wide variety of community-oriented events and activities. She is responsible for all library operations, including budget preparation and management, library-collection management, staff selection and evaluation, and marketing and public relations.

The Library's mission is to serve the informational, educational, and recreational needs of Acton residents of all ages and backgrounds. Recognizing the diversity of the community and the high level of demand, the Library does the following:

1. Supports the mission by developing collections in a variety of formats, to meet known and anticipated community needs.

2. Strives to make residents aware of its services and collections, and to make those resources as accessible as possible both on-site and through electronic means.

3. Strives to use the Library resources of staff, technology, and building accommodations, to ensure their most efficient possible use.

To download Acton Memorial Library's Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2022 to 2024, click here.

To learn more about Acton Memorial Library, click here.


Our Club provides Service Above Self, to make a positive difference in the lives of people - both locally and worldwide. We welcome you to attend our Club Meetings, which are held on the first and third Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center. We also invite you to join us for our monthly Social Gatherings, which are held on the fourth Wednesday from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m. at the Boxboro Regency. For more information, contact Steve Jones-D'Agostino, our Club's 2022-2023 president, at either abrotaryclub@gmail.com or 508-930-8675.

For Service, Fellowship, and Fun news and information, check out our Club online:

CHECK OUT OUR DISTRICT'S EVENTS CALENDAR