I am Stephanie Beverage, and I am currently the Director of Library Services for the City of Huntington Beach in Orange County, California.  My office is in the Central Library in Huntington Beach, a large, architecturally significant building set in the City’s Central Park.  As Director, I am responsible for all aspects of library service for the City. I am a City Department Head, reporting to the City Manager and City Council. I manage the planning and delivery of services, including budgets and budget development, strategic planning, and all other administrative functions of the library system. We have 5 locations in Huntington Beach and we offer a wide range of services to our residents including Literacy and Family Literacy programs.  As Director, I am the public face of the Library to the community, and I often speak to community groups and participate in City projects and activities.

I have spent the majority of my professional career working in public libraries in Southern California. I began as a Reference Librarian at the Ontario City Library.   From there I moved onto the History Department at the Los Angeles Public Library System. I shifted into Technical Services when I moved to OC Public Libraries, as Acquisitions Librarian, and then moved into Administration at Alhambra Public Library, South Pasadena Public Library, OC Public Libraries (again) and now Huntington Beach. I have been a Regional Manager, an Assistant Library Director and Director. At each of the libraries where I have worked, I have tried to foster creativity and innovation in library services. 

I have been active in both the California Library Association and the American Library Association, participating in Section and Division activities. I am a member of CLA, ALA and PLA and I am currently serving on two ALA committees.   

I was honored to be asked to serve as a Mentor to the Eureka Institute. I personally have had a number of mentors during my career, and I would not be the Director I am without their wisdom, insight and support for a young colleague.  I also think it is essential that we grow and develop the next generation of leaders in the Library profession. We face a lot of challenges in our field, and programs like Eureka give us the opportunity to give young professionals the tools and skills to be effective leaders in these interesting times. 

I currently live in North Orange County with my husband and our 2 large Ragdoll cats. In my spare time, I enjoy most sports and I am an avowed college football “geek” and have been known to travel far and wide for college football games.