Martha Hutzel has been appointed Director of Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) effective January 1, 2016.
She replaces Director Donna Cote, who retired September 11, 2015, following 44 years of service at CRRL. The Library Board selected Hutzel from a national pool of candidates.
Hutzel has more than 20 years of professional library experience, all of them at CRRL. She began working for CRRL in 1983, took some time off to start her family, and returned in 1988. She loved the work so much she decided to obtain her Masters Degree in Library Science (MLS), which she earned in 1997 from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Her jobs over the years have included head of the Circulation Department and branch manager at Snow and Porter libraries. Since 2013, she’s served as branch manager of England Run.
“I love being a librarian at the CRRL so much, and have had the privilege and honor of being mentored by Deputy Director Caroline Parr, Donna Cote and others who have given service to the CRRL community,” she said. “I have long desired to carry their sense of purpose and service to the community forward.”
Hutzel believes public libraries are the great leveler in a Democratic society. “I believe the public library in America today is the most valuable community resource because it is available to all, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, educational level, or any other factor,” she said. “Libraries transform communities by offering lifelong education to everyone and bringing the community together. An educated society is an improved society.”
“CRRL is recognized as an important community partner in education with all local schools, contributes to the quality of life in the region, increases the early literacy of preschoolers and offers a quiet refuge in an increasingly hectic society,” Hutzel said.
The life-long reader grew up in a farm family of thirteen children. “We were all readers and book lovers,” she said. She moved to Fredericksburg in 1982. “One of the first things I did was obtain a library card from the Headquarters library,” she said. “I brought my children to story times and other programs, and the staff were wonderful.”
“My vision is for CRRL to continue to be the best source for life long education for everyone in the region, to continue our community partnerships to an even stronger degree, to offer the absolute best customer service possible, and to continue to transform this community,” she said.
Hutzel is active outside CRRL. She was elected President of the Virginia Library Association for the 2015-16 year. She’s served as secretary and president of the North Stafford Rotary Club; as a Steering Committee member of the Chamber of Commerce Network of Enterprising Women; and as an Advisory Board member of the University of Mary Washington Leadership Colloquium.
“The Library Board is very pleased to have someone of Martha’s caliber take this important position of leadership in the community,” said Kathryn Miller, Library Board Chairman. “We feel sure that her expertise in library leadership, advocacy, community relations and library management will benefit library customers, staff and the community at large.”
Hutzel invites everyone to visit their local public library. “Every resident should have a library card and use their local public library,” she said. “We are here to serve the community in a wide variety of ways, and I encourage every resident to stop by one of our beautiful locations and see what we can do for you. All you have to do is ask!”
Central Rappahannock Regional Library includes eight branches providing free library cards to residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania and Westmoreland. CRRL also has reciprocal agreements with the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange and Prince William that allow those residents to obtain free cards by showing a card from their library. All others must pay an annual family fee of thirty dollars. Senior citizens (65+) pay fifteen dollars. For more information, visit the website, LibraryPoint
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