City of Riverside Names Erin Christmas as Library Director
Published: 09/26/2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 26, 2018
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Names Erin Christmas as Library Director
Library veteran with a decade of experience has served in interim role for 10 months
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Erin Christmas, who has served as Interim Library Director in the City of Riverside for the past 10 months, has been named Director of the Riverside Public Library. Her appointment was approved by the Board of Library Trustees Monday (9/24) evening.
Christmas has worked for the Riverside Public Library since July 2016, first as Assistant Library Director for about 16 months, then in the interim director role for 10 months. A Riverside native, Christmas has more than 10 years of professional library experience in California.
“Erin Christmas has proven herself to be a tireless advocate of how the library system in Riverside can change lives,” Mayor Rusty Bailey said. “She understands that the library is an incredible resource for young people starting their educations to adults trying to get back into the workforce.”
Christmas has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Occidental College and a Master’s degree in Library Information Science from San Jose State University. She previously worked the Santa Clarita Public Library, where she was the Assistant Library Director and Branch Manager of the Old Town Newhall Library. She also worked at the San Bernardino County Public Library and the University of California, Riverside Science Library (now Orbach Science Library).
During her time in Riverside as Interim Director, Christmas led the 2018 Riverside Reads campaign, the Toy Lending Library project and the CENIC upgrade projects, which greatly increased internet speeds at the Riverside Public Library. These projects are part of her effort to expand the library’s reach into the community by increasing its offerings to the public.
“The library that we grew up with has evolved into a multi-dimensional information center, and Erin understands that,” Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Conder said. “We look forward to seeing her continue to outreach to the community and continue to tell the story of how a modern library can assist the public.”
Christmas is known for her leadership skills, extensive knowledge in library management, her high-energy and positive attitude, and the way that she teams and collaborates with fellow city department heads. Challenges ahead including the creation of a new Main Library about three blocks away from the existing facility on Mission Inn Avenue, and continuing the tradition of excellence at the library branches across Riverside.
She is active in the California Library Association; has an entry on romance fiction in public libraries in the Encyclopedia of Romance Fiction; and she writes book reviews for United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association.
Her salary will be $150,000.
