The New Library Director

 

Jessica Hudson Appointed Fairfax County Public Library Director

April 26, 2016

News Highlights 

       Jessica Hudson will begin her duties Monday, June 13

       Served in increasingly responsible positions in California library systems

       Succeeds Edwin "Sam" Clay III, who retired March 22

 

At its meeting today, the Board of Supervisors confirmed the appointment of Jessica Hudson as the next director of the Fairfax County Public Library, effective Monday, June 13. The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees appointed Hudson at its meeting on April 20. Hudson succeeds Edwin “Sam” Clay III, who retired March 22. 

As the library director, Hudson will oversee a $27.9 million system that includes eight regional libraries, 14 community libraries, Access Services for people with disabilities, plus 433 merit employees. The library’s collection encompasses more than 2.3 million items available for check out from library branches. Close to 34,000 digital items are available for download including eBooks, eAudiobooks and eVideos. 

Hudson has served in increasingly responsible positions in California library systems. She is currently the county librarian for the Contra Costa County Library in Pleasant Hill, Calif., where Hudson oversees 26 public libraries with a budget of $28 million annually and staff of 350. As part of her responsibilities, she works with 19 separate communities to assess needed updates and improvements in services, facilities, staffing levels, technology and materials 

Prior to her current position, Hudson was the county librarian for the Nevada County Library in Nevada City, Calif., from December 2011 to April 2014. There she worked with the county leadership to ensure that the citizen feedback loop was open, wrote and administered grants and implemented a lean staffing model for a new technology center. From January 2011 to December 2011, she was the county librarian for Tehama County Library in Red Bluff, Calif. 

Hudson began her library career as a library aide in 2001. She moved up as a library assistant and branch manager before becoming a county librarian in January 2011. 

Hudson has a master’s in library science from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s of business administration from California State University, Sacramento. An active member of the California Library Association, Hudson has presented on a variety of management-related topics for the association including employee morale, floating the collection, flexible staffing models and skills for new supervisors at California Library Association meetings.