The management and trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library have announced that Sandy Hook resident Jennifer Nash will be joining the library as assistant director.

Nash has served as the head of teen services at the Wallingford Public Library for the past 13 years, a position that entailed multiple facets of public-facing work as well as administrative duties in that community of 45,000 people.

“Jennifer played an integral role in creating that library’s well-known Collaboratory, a 2,400-square foot maker space, digital media lab, and co-working space,” said director Douglas Lord. “It’s an incredible facility, known statewide in libraries as the standard-bearer for responsive, community-minded service. We will apply those best practices here in Newtown at every opportunity.”

She is a graduate of University of Connecticut with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science from Southern Connecticut State University. She held a professional position at the Milford Public Library prior to her time in Wallingford.

Speaking for the board, President Amy Dent said, “After a deliberate process with many strong candidates, the search committee agreed that Jennifer was the right individual to join the administrative team.”

Nash will be helping to coordinate library services in support of a mission to promote the joy of lifelong learning, stimulate curiosity, support the exchange of ideas, and build a welcoming gathering place for the Newtown community. She will lead a dedicated staff of 11 full-time and nine full-time equivalents who are focused on meeting community needs through services that position the library as a connector, partner, community hub, and a place for collaborative learning.

The search committee included members of the library’s staff — Meg Savarese, Alana Bennison, and director Douglas Lord — and of the Board of Trustees: Rose Marie Zaharek, Betsy Litt, and Beth Hamilton.

Hamilton said, “I encourage Newtown to welcome one of their own into the ranks of leaders at the library. We’re very fortunate to have found Jennifer in our own community!”

Nash stated, “I am thrilled to be joining the staff of my hometown library! I have been passionate about public libraries since I was just a little bookworm enjoying the stacks in my local children’s room and I have taken pride in a profession that encourages a lifelong love of literacy and learning. I am confident that my experience with 21st Century library trends, my leadership skills, my ability to create strong relationships with community and business leaders, and my unparalleled experience with STEM-based programming for all ages will bring strength to the library in the assistant director position.”