AVON — Town Administrator Gregory Enos is pleased to announce the hiring of a new Director of the Avon Public Library.
Elise LaForge is scheduled to assume the role of Library Director on Oct. 4. She was chosen for the role following her interview with the Library Board of Trustees and the Town last month.
“We are excited to have Elise re-join the staff of the Avon Public Library,” Town Administrator Enos said. “She brings years of experience in library services to the role and we know that she will help continue to steer the library in the right direction.”
LaForge, who moved to Avon when she was a child, said she grew up patronizing the Avon Public Library and began working there as a part-time Circulation Assistant in 2011.
In 2012 she was promoted to a full-time Library Technician, where she was responsible for data entry of library materials, creating a monthly newsletter and calendar for the library, helping manage the library’s presence on Facebook and Twitter, providing purchasing recommendations to the Director, assisting patrons and more.
Upon leaving the Avon Public Library in 2016, LaForge became the Reader Services Coordinator at the Attleboro Public Library. In this new role she was responsible for developing and maintaining an adult fiction print and electronic collection with an emphasis on creating an inclusive collection, facilitating and coordinating between 30 and 40 adult programs a year, creating engaging and relevant book displays, coordinating an adult summer reading program, growing the library’s presence on Facebook and Instagram, assisting patrons with the use of public computers and services, and more.
As Director, she will oversee and manage a wide spectrum of programs, services and resources at the Avon Public Library, overseeing the day-to-day operation of the facility and staff.
LaForge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Bridgewater State University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Rhode Island-Kingston.
“Elise served the Town of Avon and patrons of the Public Library well for many years, and continued to grow her skills and knowledge as Reader Services Coordinator in Attleboro,” Avon Public Library Trustees Chair Chuck Comeau said. “Her passion for reading and library services is highly evident, and we know she will bring this passion to her new role as our Library Director.”
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