San José State University School of Information alumna Penny Hummel was recently hired as Director of the Canby Public Library, becoming the first full time library director the Oregon city of just under 16,000 has had for over a decade. Hummel’s position was made possible by the passage of a county library district last November.

Once aboard, Hummel engaged at once in a large project — planning and building a new library. Hummel works with the Carnby Library Board in discussions underway since February.

Hummel told SLISweb,

Although I had worked for many years as a senior manager for a top-rated urban library system, my other options within the profession were very limited without an MLIS. San José’s Executive program gave me the credentials that have greatly expanded opportunities for me in the library field, and have paid off with this wonderful new opportunity.

Hummel most recent prior position was Marketing & Communications Manager for Multnomah County Library.

The story is explored in depth by the Canby Herald: Penny Hummel is named the new library director at Canby Public Library