Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - Today, City Manager Wyatt Shields announced that, in consultation with the Library Board of Trustees, Megan Dotzler has been hired as the new Library Director for Mary Riley Styles Public Library (MRSPL) in the City of Falls Church.
"I am pleased to welcome Megan Dotzler to the City of Falls Church team," said Shields. “It was clear through the recruitment process that Megan Dotzler will bring deep experience and a welcoming “people first” mindset to leading the Mary Riley Styles Public Library.”
Dotzler joins MRSPL from the Arlington Public Library in Arlington, Virginia, where she was head of Central Library youth services and before that branch manager for Arlington’s Aurora Hills location. Prior to Dotzler’s time with Arlington, she was the assistant director of the Memorial Library in Acton, Massachusetts. Dotzler earned her dual master's degree in children’s literature and library science from Simmons College in Massachusetts.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to serve in a city with a strong sense of community and love for their library. The Mary Riley Styles Public Library is an invaluable part of the City for its beautiful building and wonderful collections and, most importantly, the excellent library staff, volunteers, Foundation, and trustees,” said Dotzler. She continued, “I am honored to be working with, learning from, and leading such an incredible group of people. I look forward to learning more about the city and the vibrant community here. Thank you for welcoming me to the City of Falls Church.”
This announcement follows a comprehensive recruitment campaign for the new Library Director. A panel of City staff and Library Board members interviewed five finalists and provided the City Manager with input and recommendation in the selection process.
Marshall Webster has been serving as the interim library director since September 2023 and will continue in this role until Dotzler assumes office on October 7, 2024. “I am grateful to Marshall for serving as interim director for almost a year,”, added Shields. “Marshall is a mainstay of the library – supportive, kind, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable – and I know I speak for all of us in the library community in our appreciation for his dedication and leadership.”