Trustees Name New Director for Newton Free Library

The Newton Library Trustees announced yesterday they have appointed Milton Library Director Phil McNulty as the new director at the . 

According to a press release issued by the Trustees, McNulty will take the helm as Newton's library director in early June. 

"The Newton Free Library has incredible output and a wonderful service commitment. It is one of the great libraries in the Commonwealth," McNulty said in the press release. "I am really looking forward to learning all about how the library is organized and getting to know the staff, Friends and library users and supporters, and helping continue that tradition of excellence."

McNulty will replace Director Nancy Perlow,  after five years as director and 40 years serving at the Newton Free Library. Perlow was honored with the Mayor Ted Mann Community Service Award at Wednesday morning's . 

McNulty, who graduated from Simmons College Graduate School of Library Science, has served as director at the Milton library since 2003, according to the press release. McNulty played a key role in a number of projects during his tenure and helped obtain a $3.7 million library construction grant in 2005. He was also at the helm of the Milton Library during $13.4 million addition/renovation project. 

More details and information is available in the press release below:

The Board of Trustees of the Newton Free Library has announced the appointment of Phil McNulty as the new Library Director. Mr. McNulty will take the helm in early June 2012 as current Director Nancy Perlow retires following her stellar 40-year career in the Newton library system. “The Newton Free Library is a wonderful institution, and is one of the reasons why Newton has been such a successful community for many years,” said Mayor Setti Warren. “Philip McNulty brings a wealth of experience to the position of Library Director, and I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead. 

A graduate of Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Mr. McNulty comes to Newton from the Milton Public Library where he has served as Director since 2003. Highlights of his term there include overseeing a $13.4 million addition/renovation project to re-imagine the strategic direction of the library. He wrote the library building program in 2003, and wrote, submitted and obtained a $3,672,000 Massachusetts Library Construction grant in 2005. As the newly renovated building was opening, Phil managed the introduction of RFID, a materials handling system that supports patron self-check stations and an automated sorting unit. The goal of the project was to substantially increase circulation transaction activity without the need for additional staff, thereby allowing a shift in staff to more valuable person-to-person contact roles. Additionally Phil worked with the Town Administrator in negotiating union contracts.

During his extensive career Phil has served as the Assistant Regional Program Administrator in the Boston Public Library where he supported the services, administration and management of three regional service programs. There his chief responsibility was the administration and coordination of services to members of the Metro-Boston Library Network. Prior to that he was the Director of the Medway Public Library where he was responsible for all aspects of library management and also managed a complete addition/renovation project. Phil has been the Treasurer of the Old Colony Library Network since 2010. He was President of the Minuteman Library Network from 1992-1993 and was a Metrowest Regional Library System Executive Board member in 2000.

In taking his position as Director of the Newton Free Library Phil said, "The Newton Free Library has incredible output and a wonderful service commitment. It is one of the great libraries in the Commonwealth. I am really looking forward to learning all about how the library is organized and getting to know the staff, Friends and library users and supporters, and helping continue that tradition of excellence."