Meet Michael Colford, Director-at-Large
I’ve been working in libraries since 1978, as a library page in a suburban library. It took me a while to fully give in to the lure of librarianship… I was going to be a rock star, then a famous writer, but continued to work at my local library while exploring those options. In 1988 I got my first full-time job in the technical services department of the Reading Public Library, and about ten years later I was running that department and getting my degree in Library Science. It wasn’t until 2004, when I got my job at the Boston Public Library, that my career passion emerged. Working in an urban public library was an inspiration, as every day I could see how vitally we were improving people’s lives. I’m also a big believer in working collaboratively and learning from each other. I ran the Massachusetts Library Association’s annual conference for fifteen years, and I believe that experience led me to serving on the PLA Board.
Why I wanted to serve on the PLA Board
There are two library organizations that I feel have had a strong impact on my professional life: the Urban Library Council, and the Public Library Association. Public libraries have always been the heart of the community, but as the world has involved, and the equitable access of information has become vital and also challenging, public libraries are more important than ever. I hope my time with the PLA Board allows me to lend whatever experience or innovative thinking to public libraries across the country through the association.
My vision for the future of public libraries
Public libraries improve people’s lives and build better citizens. Public libraries serve all ages with whatever they need. I see the patron relationship evolving into more of a client relationship, where library staff work with individual patrons attain their goals throughout their lives.
My favorite book
Really? There are so many, and I have many favorite books. I will go with a classic, Dune by Frank Herbert. The world building, including politics, economics, religion, and ecological is simply astounding; and every time I re-read this book, which I do, frequently, I glean even more.
Somewhere I love to frequent in my community
I am on the Board of the Footlight Club in Boston, America’s longest, continuously-operating community theater, now in its 146th season. I have recently begun directing theater, most recently such shows as Vanya, and Sonia, and Masha, and Spike and Xanadu, and I love hanging out and supporting community theater at the Footlight Club.
Photo: Michael Colford with the cast of the musical Xanadu that he recently directed. They performed at the Jamaica Plain Music Fest, and it was a rollicking good time! Very proud of that show.