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Peter Coyl Named Sacramento Public Library Director and CEO

New SPL Director Peter Coyl (SPL Photo)

New Library Director and CEO to start January 3, 2022

Sacramento Public Library Authority Board is pleased to announce that Peter Coyl has been named Library Director and CEO. Coyl will take the helm of Sacramento Public Library on January 3, 2022 and will lead California’s fourth-largest library system with its 28 locations serving Sacramento County.

”I am excited to join the Sacramento Public Library and help lead it into its next chapter. It is an honor to be asked to continue the great work that has been done by the staff and board to make SPL a destination for learning in the community.  SPL is well deserving of its great reputation and I look forward to building on that.”

New Sacramento Public Library Director Peter Coyl

Since 2017, Coyl has served as Director of the Montclair Public Library, one of the busiest municipal libraries in New Jersey. He is the Vice President of the Freedom to Read Foundation, serves on the American Library Association’s (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Committee and recently was a member of Public Library Association’s (PLA) Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice. He earned his master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University with a concentration in Youth Services.

Coyl’s love for libraries started at Sacramento Public Library where he was issued his first library card when he was 5 years old. With over 20 years of experience in libraries, he brings a diverse knowledge base in all aspects of library service ranging from circulation clerk and bookmobile driver at Rochester Hills Public Library, librarian at a K-2 international school in Taiwan, and Branch Manager and District Manager at Dallas Public Library.

“Peter brings a broad range of experience and we are confident that under his leadership the Library will continue its focus on serving the needs of our community. We’re thrilled to welcome him back to where his passion for libraries began as a child. Throughout his career, Peter has worked to remove barriers to library access from eliminating overdue fines and developing life skills programs to support refugee communities and keeping seniors connected with Wi-Fi hotspots during the pandemic.”

Sacramento Public Library Authority Board Chair and Sacramento Councilmember Eric Guerra