By Kyle LoJacono
Pasco County has a new library director, seven-year department veteran Nancy Fredericks.
Fredericks replaces Linda Allen, who helped found the system 24 years ago. Allen retired Feb. 4.
Fredericks started working with the Pasco Library System in 2004, the last three years as the E-government services manager. She lives in Port Richey, but has worked at libraries in central and east Pasco as well.
Dan Johnson, assistant county administrator, said of Fredericks’ promotion, “She has shown she can handle almost anything thrown at her during her time with the library system. She has worked in various roles all over the county. I’d say there is no one else who knows more about our libraries than she does.”
Fredericks recently talked with The Laker/Lutz News about becoming the system’s director.
Q: What is it like for you to take over the library system in Pasco?
A: It is very exciting! We have a great library system, and I am looking forward to offering more programs and services to Pasco County residents.
Q: When did your love of books start?
A: I love reading and have since I was a child; however, it was emerging technologies that drew me to librarianship.
Q: What are your favorite books of all time?
A: That is a very difficult question. My favorite books change over time, depending on what I am reading and my interests at any given time. One of the first books I fell in love with while in high school was Watership Down. Currently, I’m reading Freakonomics.
Q: What goals do you have with the department?
A: My goal for Pasco County Library System is to provide excellent services to Pasco County residents.
Q: How does technology fit into providing those services? Electronics seem to be the way libraries are going today.
A: I hope to build a strong and cohesive library team that is flexible and adaptable, which will effectively cope with constantly evolving information technology.
Q: I understand you recently received an award from Library Journal Mover and Shaker for your innovation with technology.
A: I was one of nine from around the country to get the award for technology. That is a tremendous honor for me to be recognized in that way. Not only to be honored by Library Journal Mover, but for technology use especially as that’s the way of the future for libraries.
–For more information on the Pasco Library System, visit pascolibraries.org.
