New CEO for Queensland State Library

Note from Michael: I worked with Janette on the CAVAL Visiting Scholar Project. We had a wonderful afternoon visiting the good folks at the Yarra Plenty Library while I was in Melbourne. Congrats Janette!

Famous for being a place to expand your mind and change your life, State Library of Queensland will welcome its new CEO and State Librarian in February 2012.

State Library has built a reputation for successfully re-imagining libraries for the 21st century, and new CEO Ms Janette Wright will build on this tradition.

Announcing her appointment, Library Board of Queensland Chairman Professor Roly Sussex said Ms Wright was ideally qualified to lead State Library. He said she was an experienced library professional with an astute business mind.

“Her previous roles in library management and library supply show her to be a new technology innovator with a strong commitment to the future of libraries to support social change and equity. As director of an Australian online publisher she led the development of new content such as “TV-News”, providing on-line access to full video content of Australian broadcast news and current affairs programs under licence for education use. Ms Wright has served at senior levels in the public service and on the council of the National Film and Sound Archive where she convened the Indigenous Materials Collection Committee, working with the archive staff and representatives of indigenous communities to establish policies for the management of sensitive archival materials.” he said.

“Ms Wright’s broad experience of new and traditional environments will strengthen the new world of connections and opportunities which State Library now offers the community, especially in State Library’s new frontier, The Edge.”

“The role of State Librarian attracted a high quality field of applicants, including international candidates, and I am confident we’ve made an outstanding choice in selecting Ms Wright for the position.

“As a CEO and Managing Director, Ms Wright has had an impressive record of success in fostering and promoting leaders in the constantly challenging and changing circumstances of the modern library.

”This is an exciting time for Queenslanders and for State Library.

“We will continue to pursue our ambitious agenda of enriching the lives of all Queenslanders and of being a 21st century pace setter for the rest of the world.

“We look forward to welcoming Ms Wright in the new year and hope all Queenslanders will join us for new ways of seeing the world, connecting with others, and creating and shaping the future of our great state.”