HHPL Welcomes New Chief Librarian

HALTON HILLS, ON/ July 30, 2020 – The Board at Halton Hills Public Library (HHPL) today announced the appointment of Melanie Southern as Chief Librarian. Ms. Southern will commence her new role on August 17, 2020. A passionate and dedicated public sector professional, Ms. Southern brings over 20 years of public library and community building experience to the position. She came to Halton in 2000, with the Burlington Public Library, and progressed into more senior management positions, most recently at the City of Mississauga. “We are excited to welcome Melanie as our next Chief Librarian and her leadership will be vital to fulfilling our vision to make our library a path to worlds of imagination, innovation and opportunity” said Tamara Smith, Chair of the HHPL Board of Directors. “We are pleased to have found an engaging executive with the energy and passion to continue to meet the needs of our community.” With a proven track record of success in the Public Library field, her experience will be invaluable in meeting the strategic goals and objectives of HHPL. “Being the Chief Librarian at Halton Hills Public Library is the culmination of a career path that I have been working toward,” said Ms. Southern. “Halton Hills Public Library is an outstanding, well-managed system with a commitment to staff excellence, an engaged Board, a tremendous relationship with Town staff, the Mayor and Council, and an increasingly diverse and growing community that call the Town of Halton Hills their home. This is an exciting opportunity.” Ms. Southern will take over the position as Chief Librarian following the planned retirement of current Chief Librarian Geoff Cannon in August 2020. Mr. Cannon has served HHPL for four decades, starting as a student page and finally as Chief Librarian for the past four years. Ms. Smith thanked Geoff for his many years of service and wished him a relaxing and productive retirement. “After nearly 40 years of service to our community, Geoff’s retirement is a bittersweet moment in the history of Halton Hills Public Library,” stated Ms. Smith. “We will continue to benefit from his dedication and leadership, which has provided a firm foundation as Ms. Southern takes on this important role in our community.”