The Huntington Memorial Library Board of Trustees didn’t have far to look for the library’s new director.
The board appointed Circulation Supervisor Alex Benjamin as the next library director during its May 14 meeting, Board Chairperson Diane Aaronson said Friday, May 16. He replaces Tina Winstead, who is retiring after almost 12 years at the helm.
Winstead told the board in January she would be retiring, Aaronson said. The board started looking for her replacement in February.
Because the library is a public library and the director is a civil service position, the board worked with the city of Oneonta’s Senior Human Resources Specialist David Coury. The board also worked with Four County Library System Executive Director Steven J. Bachman and Winstead to ensure the applicants were qualified to hold the director’s position.
The board interviewed three candidates, and Benjamin “had the home team advantage and the qualifications for the position,” Aaronson said. “The people on the board of trustees really liked his answers. The board, friends (of the library), patrons and the other staff,” were in favor of his being hired.
“A lot of people know him and like him,” she said. “He’s doing a good job. A lot of things were in his favor.”
Benjamin said in an email that he “felt wonderful” when he was named director. “Being named director of my childhood library is a dream come true. I’m still processing all of the feelings, but excitement and joy are definitely at the forefront.”
He said some of his fondest childhood memories are going to HML with his grandmother.
“I thought the library was just the most wonderful place,” he said. “The library was the first place that allowed me to explore the boundaries of my own creativity independent of school and it opened up a whole new world for me.”
Benjamin said he started working at HML in 2013 as a clerk at the front desk and was promoted to librarian when he got his master’s degree. He also worked at SUNY Oneonta’s Milne Library.
“My career in libraries actually began accidentally,” he said. “In college, my work study placement was at the library, and as I learned more and more about the job, the warm memories from my childhood flooded back, and I realized how much fulfillment I found in helping others overcome their challenges.”
Benjamin said he applied for the director’s position for a couple of reasons. “I think it’s the dream of every parent to make the world a better place for their children,” he said. “Working at the library is a chance to make Oneonta a better place, and the director position is an opportunity to do that on a larger scale. On a personal level, I enjoy being challenged, and there’s no more challenging role in a library than director.”
Benjamin’s first goal will be the smooth opening of the new children’s library on Dietz Street. “We want it to be a magical space that inspires children,” he said. “It’s also a chance to reconfigure and expand the main library. Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say the library has space issues. Now, suddenly, we’ve been blessed with extra room.
“Looking ahead, I want to continue developing the library as a central part of the Oneonta community. Under Tina’s leadership, we’ve built strong partnerships with local businesses and organizations, and I’d like to see those grow. Like many libraries, we aim to do great things with limited resources, and community partnerships allow us to stretch those resources further.”
Benjamin will be promoted to director on June 13, Aaronson said. Winstead’s last day is June 20, so there will be a week overlap for training, she said.