Director of Library Services Erica Cuyugan announced the selection of Cecilia Tovar as Santa Monica Public Library’s (SMPL) new Assistant City Librarian. Tovar is tasked with overseeing library operations across the system.
"Cecilia brings years of experience working with a variety of teams, staff, and City leadership," said Cuyugan. "She is highly regarded for her commitment to serving diverse clientele and is a dedicated SMPL staff member, City employee, and Santa Monica resident. I look forward to working with her on moving our organization forward and planning for the future of our Library."
Tovar most recently served as the City’s Principal Librarian for Community Engagement and Programming, where her duties included overseeing Literacy Education for Adults & Families (LEAF), Adult Services, and Youth Services. With the support of her teams, she has centralized programs and scheduling across the library system.
"I'm thrilled to serve as the new Assistant City Librarian for the Santa Monica Public Library and its residents," said Tovar. "Our Library is a place where lifelong learning and connections are the gateway to a greater wellbeing, and I am proud to be part of this system. I am looking forward to continuing the work that my colleagues and City Librarian have done to move our system forward."
Tovar has 15 years of professional public library experience, nine of which she has spent at SMPL. Prior to coming to work in Santa Monica, Cecilia was a branch manager for Yuma County Library District in San Luis, Arizona. In 2013, she began at SMPL as the Pico Branch Manager before the branch officially opened in 2014. She was promoted to Principal Librarian – Branch & Public Services in 2015 and then to Principal Librarian – Community Engagement & Programming in 2021. She also served as Interim Assistant City Librarian in 2016 for seven months and for one month in 2022. Cecilia has her MLS from the University of Arizona and her Master’s in Education from Northern Arizona University.
She began her role on November 6, 2022, with an annual salary of $169,824.
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