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<P><FONT face=Arial>March 11, 2009<BR><BR>For immediate
release<BR><BR>Contact: Penny Hummel,
Marketing & Communications, 503.988.5498, <A
href="mailto:pennyh@multcolib.org">pennyh@multcolib.org</A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face=Arial><STRONG>Multnomah County Library Director to
Retire May 1</STRONG></FONT><FONT face=Arial><BR><BR>PORTLAND, OR —Director of
Libraries Molly Raphael has announced that she will be retiring from her
position as of May 1. “Molly has done a terrific job and we’ll miss her,”
said Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, who also lauded Raphael for her many
accomplishments during her five year tenure at the library’s
helm: <BR><BR>*Passage of the 2006 library levy with a “yes” vote of nearly
62%, the highest total votes for any Multnomah County Library
levy;<BR><BR>*Increasing diversity in library employment, collections and
programming;<BR><BR>*Opening all libraries 7 days a week;<BR><BR>*Expanding the
library’s literacy programs and services;<BR><BR>*Planning two new branch
libraries, with anticipated openings in late 2009 or 2010;<BR><BR>*Working with
The Library Foundation to bring millions of private dollars to Multnomah County
Library to enhance programs and services;<BR><BR>*Maintaining MCL’s ranking as
highest circulating library in the country for four years, as well as its HAPLR
standing as one of the U.S.’s top three urban library
systems; <BR><BR>*Developing new programs and opportunities for older
adults through collaboration with multiple community
based-institutions. <BR><BR>“Serving as library director in Multnomah
County is the most challenging and rewarding work I have done in my nearly 40
years as a librarian,” said Raphael, who is also currently serving as the
president of the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) of the
American Library Association. A national search for Raphael’s replacement
is currently underway. <BR><BR>###</FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua" size=2>Penny
Hummel, MLIS</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
size=2>Marketing & Communications Manager</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua" size=2>Multnomah County
Library</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua" size=2>205
NE Russell St.</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
size=2>Portland OR 97212</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
face="Book Antiqua" size=2>ph: 503.988.5498</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua" size=2>fax:
503.988.5441</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua"
size=2>e-mail: pennyh@multcolib.org</FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face="Book Antiqua" size=2>www.multcolib.org
</FONT></SPAN></P></DIV>
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