"Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library.
The only entrance requirement is interest."
-Lady Bird Johnson

This wonderful quote truly reflects why I love being a librarian. I believe that libraries are the keys to our democracy and community success!

I've had an interesting career so far; working in academic, public, and state library agencies. My latest adventure began on November 19, 2010 when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed me as the State Librarian of California. Before that I had been Acting State Librarian for about nine months. My focus is around creating a great future for our communities through libraries.

Before California, I was the Assistant Director of the Omaha Public Library System. There I had an opportunity to work with friend and colleague, Rivkah Sass, to help create positive organizational change. Prior to Omaha, I was the Deputy State Librarian at the Maryland State Department of Education, where my primary responsibility was to oversee the implementation of statewide projects. While in MD, I played an active role in developing programs, conferences, and discussions to help public libraries generate ideas, conversations, and innovative programming around future thinking.

I also spent six months working with Coates & Jarratt, Inc., a futuring think tank in D.C., honing my futurist thinking skills. I have consulted and participated in speaking engagements nationwide around libraries and future thinking.

I have an MLS from the University of Pittsburgh, and am a member of the Association of Professional Futurists. In 2003 I was selected as a Library Mover and Shaker.

I love hanging with my hubby, movies (especially about the future), music, new technology, shopping, and baseball. Go Sox! I still aspire to learn to play the piano I inherited from my grandmother, and play One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces by Ben Folds Five.

Feel free to contact me any time!

Stacey Aldrich
State Librarian
California State Library
914 Capitol Mall, Room 220
P.O. Box 942837
Sacramento, CA 94237-0001
phone: (916) 654.0188
fax: (916) 654.0064
email: saldrich@library.ca.gov