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Poland Named Head of Hartford Public Library

By Steve Goode

October 07, 2009

Breaking with tradition, the Hartford Public Library board today named someone without a library services background to the organization's top position.

Matthew K. Poland, whose professional background is extensively rooted in the business world, was named the library's chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Poland joined the library as deputy administrator in May of 2008 and was appointed a co-director, along with deputy librarian Janet Benedict in December of 2008 following long-time head librarian Louise Blalock's retirement.

Benedict will continue to focus her efforts on library services until a permanent head librarian is chosen by Poland, board president Geraldine Sullivan said today.

"We felt we had to make a bold move here," she said. "We know the financial constraints of the city and the state. We are going to have to find new revenue streams."