PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Today, City Manager Tom Modica appointed Cathy De Leon as Director of the Library Services Department for the City of Long Beach. Ms. De Leon brings to the City more than 22 years of experience in public libraries, with the last five years as Manager of Branch Library Services for Long Beach Public Library overseeing the operations of its 11 neighborhood libraries. As Director, she will oversee the Long Beach Public Library system as a whole, including Billie Jean King Main Library, the neighborhood libraries, and Library programs and initiatives, operations, budget, staffing and partnerships.

“Ms. De Leon’s approach to Library Services is what the Long Beach Public Library is all about – free access to information and learning for everyone in our community, with equity, inclusion and innovation built in,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “There are so many great community-centric programs and initiatives that our Library leads, and many more to come under Ms. De Leon’s leadership.”

Ms. De Leon’s career has centered primarily on early childhood literacy and library services for diverse communities with her recent work including the promotion and implementation of racial equity initiatives and fostering relationships with underserved community groups. Since joining the City of Long Beach in 2017, she has also focused on developing innovative approaches to library service such as increasing the accessibility of Khmer-language materials. Ms. De Leon led the development of the Library's pandemic response, namely LBPL To-Go and Grab + Go services, and worked to safely reopen all library locations. She partnered with the Department of Technology and Innovation to develop the Digital Inclusion Hotline, an effort lauded by the California State Library as a model of service for other public libraries, and distributed free computers and hotspots to qualifying residents. Ms. De Leon is also currently collaborating with Long Beach residents and small business owners to host the inaugural Festival of Asian American-Pacific Islander Books (FAB LB) to be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Billie Jean King Main Library.

“It’s an honor to be named the next Director of the Long Beach Public Library. Public libraries are said to be the ‘great equalizer,’ a fundamental educational, informational and community resource for all,” said De Leon. “Long Beach Public Library will continue to be so for this wonderful and dynamic city. As we strive to be inclusive and welcoming to all, we’ll focus on eliminating barriers to use so that all can take full advantage of the wealth of educational and enrichment opportunities the library has to offer.”

Ms. De Leon was one of 28 emerging leaders from across the country named a fellow of the 2019 Public Library Association Leadership Academy. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also earned undergraduate degrees in History and Asian American Studies. Born and raised in Southern California, Ms. De Leon is the daughter of Philippine immigrants and a self-described dedicated soccer, baseball and basketball mom.

She will begin her role as director on July 5, 2022.

The City thanks Christine Hertzel, who has been serving as Acting Director of Library Services, for keeping all the innovative, community-based Library programs moving forward as the City recruited for the permanent position. On July 5, she will continue her role as the Library’s Automated Services Bureau Manager. Ms. Hertzel was not a candidate for the permanent position.

About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Long Beach Public Library
Long Beach Public Library, founded in 1896, serves a diverse urban city of close to half a million people. The Long Beach Public Library system includes the Billie Jean King Main Library and eleven neighborhood libraries and a vibrant online presence. In summer of 2017, the Long Beach Public Library was awarded the National Medal for Library and Museum Services in recognition of successful community-collaborations, innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and literacy-focused programs to the residents of Long Beach. With an emphasis on providing free and equal access to information and support for learning for a lifetime, the Library offers books, media, databases, Internet access, Family Learning Centers, makerspaces, and a variety of events ranging from story times to educational and cultural programs. 

For more information, visit http://www.longbeach.gov/library, “Like” the Long Beach Public Library on Facebook, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram.