Resident 'Couldn't Be Happier' to be Next Berkley Public Library Director

The Berkley Public Library soon will have a new director.

Berkley resident Matthew Church will succeed Celia Morse, who is retiring after 30 years of service.

"I've lived in Berkley for the last 5 years and couldn't be happier," said Church, who also has worked as associate director at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham for the past 5 years. "Berkley is a community that we've started our family in and call home. Serving the residents of my city is an honor and exciting opportunity."

Church said his first day of work at the Berkley Public Library will be Sept. 18 and he will shadow Morse for the rest of the month before her retirement.

"I am delighted to welcome Matt to the library and I'm confident that I'm leaving it in good hands," Morse said in a press release. "I couldn't be more pleased with his selection." 

Berkley City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa said Church was chosen with a focus on the library's future.

"I believe libraries will continue to be a repository for information in the electronic age. Mr. Church will play a vital role in helping Berkley make the transition," she said in the press release. " ... He is well-rounded, thoughtful and he loves his work."

Bais-DiSessa noted Church also has served in library leadership roles in Seattle, WA; Battle Creek, MI; and at Wayne State University in Detroit. 

Church said he has several goals when he takes over leadership of the Berkley library, whose collection includes more than 85,000 books, audio CDs and  DVDs:

• Get to know the staff and build on what's already being done.
• Increase the size and visibility of the Friends of the Library boosters group.
• Create fundraising events and other fun opportunities to get people into the library.
• Pinpoint grant opportunities to benefit the library.

"I look forward to serving Berkley as its next library director," Church said. "I always welcome input and feedback from the community, so please don't hesitate to stop into the library to talk or to catch me around town."