The Albany Public Library is led by a team devoted to connecting you with the information you need to improve and enrich your life.
In addition to the leadership team, we have more than 120 full- and part-time employees and dozens of volunteers who help make it possible for us to bring so many resources, programs, and events to Albany, New York residents.
Scott C. Jarzombek grew up as a loyal patron of his local public library, spending the bulk of his childhood poring over history books and attending comic book club. During high school, Scott combined his penchant for skateboarding and music with his interest in multimedia and photography as a member of the school library’s audiovisual club. During his junior year of college he became a “jack of all trades” for his college library director, which led him to apply to SUNY Albany’s Library Science Program. During his second semester in library school, Scott was hired at Albany Public Library and worked here as branch librarian for nine years. After leaving the organization in 2009 to develop his career, he returned to Albany in 2014 as the executive director.
Rebecca Lubin currently oversees the Delaware, Howe, and North Albany branches, but is probably best known, especially to our younger patrons, as “Miss Rebecca,” the super-awesome librarian at Delaware. After almost seven years nurturing young readers and making that branch into a neighborhood destination, she left Albany to build her leadership skills as an assistant director. Now that she’s back, Rebecca’s special touch with community outreach and customer service are being spread throughout the library’s branches. With a previous career as an urban planner, she brings a unique skill set (not to mention a great love of animals) to her work. Rebecca holds an undergraduate degree in urban studies from Vassar College, as well as a master’s in city and regional planning from Cornell University and a master’s in library and information science from Syracuse University.
With steady calm and quiet authority, Mary Coon has been a branch manager since 2011 and currently oversees the library's central locations -- Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch and Washington Ave. Branch. Mary has been with APL for close to 20 years. She previously spent eight years in charge of the library’s collection management services, ensuring that we had the books and other materials our users want and need on the shelves. Mary’s earlier experience as a reference librarian made her into a customer service maven and knowledgeable resource (especially about hockey, football, and NASCAR). She has always loved libraries and reading, with fond childhood memories of visits to the Yonkers Public Library in Getty Square and teaching a friend to read when she was a youngster. Mary has an undergraduate degree from Pace University and graduate degree in library science from the University at Albany.
Current Trustees
The full board meets the second Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise noted). The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Videos from recent board meetings can be viewed on YouTube.
View the board meeting schedule for 2019
APL Board
The library’s nine-member Board of Trustees is charged with ensuring that the library fulfills its mission in a fiscally and operationally responsible way. The board is governed by a set of bylaws, which is regularly reviewed and amended as needed.
Library trustees are Albany residents who are elected to five-year terms. They receive no compensation and represent the interests of the community.
Library trustee elections are held the third Tuesday in May.
The board’s committees meet regularly to discuss library business. These meetings are open to the public and posted on the calendar.
Executive Committee: Karen Strong (President), Andrew Bechard (Vice President), Alison Calacone (Vice President for Finance), Brenda Robinson (Secretary)
Finance Committee: Alison Calacone (Chair), Andrew Bechard, Sarah Shearer | Next Meeting: Feb. 11, 2019 (Mon) at 6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch (2nd Floor, Tompkins Room)
Policy & Governance Committee: Brenda Robinson (Chair), Sarah Shearer | Next Meeting: Feb. 15 (Fri) at 6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch (2nd Floor, Tompkins Room)
Personnel Committee: Brenda Robinson (Chair), Elissa Kane, Jenna Pitera | Next Meetings: Feb. 25, 2019 (Mon) at 6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch (2nd Floor, Tompkins Room) | April 29, 2019 (Mon) at 6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch (2nd Floor, Tompkins Room)
Facilities & Construction Committee: Elissa Kane (Chair), Matthew Finn
Nominating Committee: Karen Strong (Chair), Elissa Kane, Jenna Pitera
Ad Hoc Committee on North Albany Branch: Matthew Finn (Chair), Sarah Shearer
