INPERSON
Photo by Priddy Pictures
WACL Welcomes
Amanda Kirby to
New Role
Hampton resident starts new chapter as Library Director.
BY KATHY RUDOLPH
“I
t’s a little crazy, but good crazy,” says
Amanda Kirby, West Allegheny
Community Library’s Director, when
asked about her new position. “It’s busy and
I’m learning lots of new things. I’m trying to
get a grasp of everything, but it’s going well.”
And that “grasp” includes running the
14,500-square-foot library with a collection
of over 45,000 items. Located on Bateman
Road in Oakdale, it was used by more than
20,453 residents of Findlay and North
Fayette townships and Oakdale Borough
in 2013, according to The State Library of
Pennsylvania.
Kirby, of Hampton Township, is up for the
challenge. “I have a lot of ideas and not so
much time to do them all,” she laughs. “I think
the library is really central to the community
and we can expand upon that and really make
it the heart and hub of the community.”
The library is in a unique position. “We
have three different municipalities that
12 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Hampton
support us and a lot of libraries just have
one,” says Kirby. “Along with West Allegheny
School District, we are really that bridge, or
connector for all three of those, so we are
excited to have the opportunity to continue to
expand and grow and meet the community’s
needs and wants.”
Kirby’s professional journey includes
receiving her master’s degree in Library and
Information Science from the University
of Pittsburgh. After working in a long-term
sub position at a school library, she realized
that she wanted to work in the public library
sector.
“I just love how many opportunities public
libraries bring to people,” says Kirby. “Every
library has its own kind of personality and
brings something special.”
After two years working at the Brentwood
Public Library as a Young Adult Services and
Adult Services Librarian, she was hired as the
Children’s Librarian at WACL and then later
was promoted to Assistant Library Director.
“Amanda was hired in February 2011 as the
Children’s Librarian,” says Marianne Sforza,
who was Director of WACL for 25 years.
“As with everything Amanda does, she gave
100 percent of herself to make the Children’s
Department the best for our communities.
Over the years, Amanda saw the need to
develop the Youth Services Department,
encompassing the Children’s, Middle Grade,