Staff Profile - July 2015

JPL’s new Deputy Director of Public Services, Jennifer Giltrop, is thrilled to join the JPL Team. This is the 6th library system in Giltrop's career which spans libraries of various sizes coast-to-coast.  The experience that she brings will help JPL continue to transform into an excellent 21st century library system.

Most of you have now seen her at your library because she has visited all 21 at least once, including attending several meetings with the Friends of the Library groups to whom she is the Library liaison. Here we want to give the Deputy Director an opportunity to elaborate on her executive roles and how her expertise will benefit JPL.

Q: Tell us about your experiences with the D. C. Public Library and other libraries that you believe will be a good fit for JPL.

I have had so many great and rich experiences in my career up to this point—all of which allow me to come to JPL confident in the work we will do together to ensure the people of Jacksonville receive the best library service possible.  Every system I have worked in has had strengths and challenges.  The experiences and strengths I bring to JPL include navigating large institutions, organizational and staff development, ensuring resources are allocated and used well, making decisions with the customer at the center, community engagement, building and renovation experience, and political and financial acumen.  

As a library moving from transactional to transformational services, it is such an exciting time to be here and in public libraries generally.

This was taken in June 2012 at the opening of the Bellevue Neighborhood Library in D.C. with David Adjaye, British architect.  He designed two award winning libraries for DCPL.  On April 15, 2009, he was selected in a competition to design the $500 million  National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of the   Smithsonian in Washington, D.C,^[3] planned to open in 2015.

I have worked with some really great people in my career who have pushed me and supported me in so many ways and for that I am both humbled and grateful. I believe it’s now my turn to give back, by putting into action mentoring and coaching strategies for staff and colleagues in order to support them in reaching their potential. It’s important to me and something I spend a lot of time thinking about.

Q:  You also have seasoned experience in Finance and Human Resources.  Please tell us about that and how it will affect your decisions concerning JPL.

A:  That is a great question.  It's hard to know how I would approach my work or make decisions if I didn't have the background that I do.  What I can tell you is that as a library administrator for the last 18 years, it is my business and human resources skills and knowledge that I use each and every day in my work, from understanding budget management to people management and more.  I will be consistently focused on process improvement, efficient use of resources, staff training and development, and connecting our vision and values to what we focus on and support.

Q:  How do you think JPL can boost public interest and library visits?  

A:  We must create excitement about the library.  We must offer services and programs that meet the needs of our community.  We must support the goals of our elected officials so that JPL’s goals are aligned with them and the impact of our work gets noticed, highlighted, and funded. We must consistently provide the highest, most responsive levels of customer service.  We must be agile and flexible in meeting the changing needs of our community.  We must be good community partners, connectors, and facilitators.  We must build strong networks of library advocates.  We must continue to bring the joy of reading and learning to our youngest; support students, parents and caregivers; provide literacy and life skills training for adults; and provide quality services for all. We must remove barriers for access and use. We must continue to build a network of private and corporate donors and seek grants to enhance our services.  Each and every one of us is connected to our success, and together we will continue to provide amazing services for our community.

Q: We know you like golf, live near the beach, and have a large family. Please share whatever will help us know you better.  

A:  It has been a lifelong dream to live at a beach!  I find great serenity and do great contemplating by the waves and soaking up the sun.  I was born and raised in Michigan, and spent most summers in my youth camping in Michigan's state parks usually on one of the Great Lakes.  

I have five sisters and three brothers—and I am the oldest.  Together we are a motley crew: librarian, kidney research grant coordinator and triathlete, Air Force social worker, stock trader, elementary teacher, two entrepreneurs, and two in the mortgage industry.  I already have eight nieces and nephews and expect there will be more!  

I played many sports growing up, and then coached youth basketball and softball in my 20s and 30s. I also umpired and refereed youth sports. In fact my first "real" job was working for Saginaw Township & Recreation at 14. When I lived in Seattle I had season tickets for the Seahawks—of course their Super Bowl win came after I moved to DC!  I am a lifelong Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers fan.  I took up golf in my late 20s and have loved it ever since; mostly I love being outside and every once in a while I get a shot that makes me go back for more.

I have traveled domestically and internationally a fair amount and enjoy doing so. The world is an amazing place!  I have also enjoyed living in different parts of the U.S. and feel fortunate that my career has provided me such opportunities.

I enjoy life and all it has to offer.  Like anyone, I have experienced trials and losses in life, but I believe that there are always ways to embrace these times and grow from them.  I love to laugh and believe humor is a great gift. 

I hope that gives you some insight, but hopefully over time we can learn more about each other, because I am just as interested to know each of you!

Above Cat in the Hat  shares fun with Jennifer Giltrop at D. C. Library where she served as Director of Public Services.