New City Librarian Named in Tyler

TYLER — After a lengthy nationwide search, the City of Tyler has hired a new City Librarian. Mary Vernau, who is currently the Library Director at Altoona Public Library in Altoona, Wisconsin, will begin her new assignment on August 6. She succeeds Chris Albertson who retired at the end of last year. Albertson was Tyler’s longest serving librarian with over 30 years on the job.

The hiring process consisted of initial applications and a questionnaire, followed by a skype interview. After the field was narrowed down, candidates interviewed with a three-person panel consisting of City of Tyler leaders. The finalists then had an interview with City Manager Mark McDaniel.

“Mary was recommended unanimously before I interviewed her myself and checked references,” McDaniel said. “She appears to be a very good match for what we need to take the Library into the future in terms of practices, services, technology and outreach.”

Vernau graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Library Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, Wisconsin. She is a member of the American Library Association as well as the Wisconsin Library Association and she has more than 15 years of experience.