The Pequea Valley Public Library’s Board of Directors was pleased to name Catherine O’Sullivan as the new Library Director of the Pequea Valley Public Library. When Margie Perella, Director of the Library announced her retirement after serving as Library Director for the past 27 years, she didn’t have to look very far for her replacement. Catherine O’Sullivan, who has served as the Salisbury Township Branch Library manager, was offered the job as the new PVPL director in June. O’Sullivan knows the value of public libraries since she utilized the library as an excellent resource when homeschooling her own children.
O’Sullivan’s vision for the library includes maintaining Perella’s tradition that made the library a valuable resource for the community located in the heart of Lancaster County’s Amish country. In fact, she noted that approximately half of the library users are from the ‘plain community’. She also credits Perella with creating a library that is a welcoming place, which is run by a fantastic, supportive staff.
Since taking on leadership of the library, she has implemented creative ideas to make the library a place where there is “something for everybody”. For instance, when the recent World Cup Soccer matches began, she set up special screenings where the tournaments were televised for large-group viewing. O’Sullivan loves the challenge of implementing new ideas, “I am a person who likes to ‘think outside the box’ and I enjoy being adaptable—there’s always a way to get from point “A to C”, even if it means going through or around point “B” to get the job done!”
This building became the Public Library in 1975.
She has also unearthed fascinating historical records about the library that she intends to share by creating displays for library visitors to view. One such find is a group photo of school attendees (circa1937) taken outside the old school house, which later became the Pequea Valley Public Library in 1975.
O’Sullivan, who is currently working on her master’s degree in library science, moved to the area nine years ago from New York City. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese language from Michigan State University.
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For more news about the transition of the PVPL Library Director position and the retirement of Margie Perella, visit Ann Mead Ash’s article that appeared in the Penny Saver, June 2, 2018.