The Grey Highlands Public Library introduced its new CEO, Jennifer Murley, to council on Mar. 16.
Murley, hired earlier this year, replaced Wilda Allen – who held the library’s CEO position for 41 years and recently retired.
As the new CEO, Murley brings years of experience in diversity/inclusion work, community engagement, and communications in library settings, having previously worked in several positions at the Collingwood Public Library, and most recently at the Innisfil IdeaLAB & Library.
“The board was highly impressed with Jennifer's credentials” said Kevin Land, chair of Grey Highlands Public Library. “We felt she struck a balance of youth, education, and the kind of experience a successful candidate would need as our CEO. What was particularly appealing was her extensive involvement with her community.”
Murley acknowledged that Allen left big shoes to fill with her retirement, but said that she was eager to take on the role.
“I did have the privilege to job-shadow Wilda Allen, who served this community for over 40 years,” she said. “While it's an intimidating role to step into, I am quite excited to continue to position the library as a community and cultural hub in the area.”
She said that working through the pandemic has had its challenges, and that she has welcomed the opportunity to offer in-person services again.
“Over the past few years of living through a pandemic, I think that most of us, myself included, have felt isolated, overwhelmed, uninspired, anxious, and the one thing that kept me going is the inspiration I get from public libraries and the community work that we do,” she said.
“Since January, we have gradually expanded our in-person services, started to develop new partnerships with community organizations, participated in Family Day events, and have moved forward with some really exciting plans for bringing back the library's cafes,” she said. “[We’re] looking forward to updating our spaces and technology to meet the growing needs of residents and tourists alike.”
Members of council were excited about what Murley brings to the community.
"I had the privilege of joining the library board at roughly the same time as Jen joined our library services," said Coun. Dane Nielsen. "Jen has some interesting ideas about quickly getting on to short term strategic planning and visioning for the library itself, and engaging the community and engaging the youth in the community to be more active in the library, which is exciting to see those efforts coming to rather quickly in her new term."
Coun. Danielle Valiquette said that she had the opportunity to attend a Family Day event with Murley, and she told Murley about the positive impact she had on her kids.
“I went to a Family Day event with the CEO, and I brought along my two teens, as well as another youth,” she said. “It's really, really hard to inspire youth nowadays and … after that day, we got in the car and my kids were so inspired by you and they had so many questions about you.”
“I am just so excited to watch you and to see what you're going to bring to this community, not only from a youth perspective, but just in general - you clearly are a star,” she said.
