The Trustees of C.H. Booth Library announce that Karen Tatarka will be joining the town's library as director, effective March 1.

Ms Tatarka is currently director of Weston Public Library. She has served in that role since 2011, and has nearly 20 years of library experience in both the academic and public library fields.

Ms Tatarka is a graduate of Fordham University, where she earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English Literature. She earned her Master's of Library Science at Southern Connecticut State University.

She is an active member of Connecticut Library Association and American Library Association, and currently serves as president of Bibliomation Library Consortium.

An eight-person search committee, consisting of C.H. Booth Library board trustees and staff, and at-large community members, spent several months coordinating a national search for the new director, winnowing out dozens of applications before agreeing on Ms Tatarka for the post.

Speaking for the board, President Robert Geckle said, "After a deliberate and robust process, our search committee and the board unanimously agreed that Karen was the individual to lead our library. Her experience in both academic and public libraries, her passion and love for community service, and her proven track record in Weston make her the ideal candidate to lead our cherished library."

Beryl Harrison, assistant library director, has been serving as Booth Library interim director since December 17. She was named to the role following the announcement by Library Director Brenda McKinley in November that Ms McKinley had accepted the director's position at Ridgefield Library. Ms McKinley's last day at Booth Library was December 16.

Starting March 1, Karen Tatarka will be leading a staff of 25 full- and part-time personnel who are focused on meeting community needs through services that position Newtown's library as a connector, partner, community hub, and a place for collaborative learning, the Trustees said January 27.

Booth Library offers a range of emerging and tested technologies and provides access to online and virtual collections. In the past year, more than 145,000 patrons visited 25 Main Street, 15,000-plus attended programs, and 209,000 items were borrowed. The library has been a focal point of the community for more than 84 years, since its opening on December 17, 1932.

C.H. Booth Library's mission is to promote the joy of lifelong learning, stimulate curiosity, support the exchange of ideas, and promote a welcoming gathering place for the community.