The Cherry Hill Public Library has seen a number of staff changes and promotions over the last several months, with major departments seeing new leadership following promotions.
Tierney Miller, formerly the head of reference and adult services, took over as library director in mid-June of this year. She takes the many internal promotions and staff changes as a positive sign, with people moving from part-time to full-time roles or transitioning into leadership positions.
“… We have such a quality group of professionals here who really like working here, who care about the community that they work for and with, and want to continue their career here in Cherry Hill,” Miller said. “And we’re really lucky to have them.”
Tierney Miller is the new director for the Cherry Hill Public Library.
Miller said her transition has been wonderful with the support of all the staff and the Friends of the Library.
Miller’s new role involves her getting out into the community, as well as helping out in various departments whenever needed. She is the face of the library.
“As the director of such a large organization, it can be easy to pull back and get siloed away from the public,” she explains. “And I have no desire to do that. I’ve worked with the public for a really long time, and I think the best way to stay connected to the patrons and the staff is to continue to work in various departments, see what issues come up, see what people are happy about.”
So far, the most challenging part has been getting used to being the leader of the organization that she’s worked in for so long.
“I value so much in terms of working collaboratively and in a team-oriented way, with people figuring out the balance of how to keep the spirit of that going, while also recognizing that the buck stops with me,” Miller said.
Her favorite part so far has been getting the opportunity to see and connect with more of the library staff.
She hopes to increase the library’s mission to become more sustainable. In her previous role, she started a sustainability community.
“Sustainability is really important to me,” Miller said, “and I feel like libraries are positioned really well to be exemplars of sustainability in the community… people reusing materials over and over again, rather than using and discarding them.”
She also hopes to lead the library in developing more ways to build community at the library.
“I think that a lot of people of all ages are struggling with isolation, loneliness, feelings of division, and the library can be a place for them to come to connect with others,” Miller said. “… to sit down with like-minded people, maybe get creative and find others that make them feel a little less alone.”
Kelly Shesko takes on leadership in reference and adult services. She is a Cherry Hill resident and has worked in the library for the adult services department for six years, having previously gained experience at six library systems across four states before deciding to stay in Cherry Hill.
The role she is taking over involves coordinating all programming for adults at the library, handling scheduling, staffing and payment for performers and speakers, as well as figuring out what makes a good library program versus what may not.
The role also involves all collections of print, audio, databases, periodicals and all other materials for adults throughout the library.
The youth services department is also under new leadership following the retirement of former supervisor Erica Moon.
Jasmine Riel, a Cherry Hill native who graduated from Cherry Hill High School West in 2011, has taken over in the position, having worked at the library since 2015. She previously worked as the teen librarian in the department.
The role involves Riel handling all programming for library patrons from infancy to 18 years of age, as well as outreach for school visits and youth oriented events around the community.
A new teen librarian, Talie Meza, recently began working in the department as well, coming to Cherry Hill from the Burlington County Library System where she worked as a Digital Learning Library associate.
