Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
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Contact: Communications and Development
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR RECEIVES BRAVA! AWARD FROM SMARTCEO MAGAZINE
PHILADELPHIA, July 13, 2012—The Free Library of Philadelphia is pleased to announce that its President and Director, Siobhan A. Reardon, has been honored with a Brava! Award from SmartCEO magazine. The Brava! Awards celebrate women business leaders who combine their entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community. These female CEOs have become exemplary leaders in their companies and the community at large by encouraging local philanthropy, mentoring fellow CEOs, and setting their companies on the path to tremendous growth. The 2012 Brava! Award winners are profiled in the July 2012 issue of Philadelphia SmartCEO magazine.
”I am delighted and honored to receive a Brava! Award,” said Ms. Reardon. “As the President and Director of the Free Library, I see firsthand the impact that strong leadership has on making Philadelphia a more vibrant city. I look forward to meeting my fellow recipients and to learning more about their exciting and impactful work in our region.”
“The 2012 Brava! Award winners are an impressive group of women doing exceptional things for our community and beyond. They are the leaders of today and tomorrow—a highly talented group that has the drive to do great things. I am sure we will continue to hear of their success for many, many years to come,” said Jaime Nespor, group publisher of SmartCEO magazine. “We are honored to recognize such a group of women and their accomplishments.”
Ms. Reardon was appointed the seventh President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia in September 2008 and its first female chief executive. Since joining the Free Library of Philadelphia, Ms. Reardon has overseen freelibrary.org’s expansion as a major digital force, featuring a robust set of downloadable materials, online collections, and mobile web pages; has spearheaded the Library’s initiative to move beyond its walls by creating computer and internet outposts—called Hot Spots—located deep in the hearts of underserved neighborhoods; and has steered the creation of an ambitious five-year strategic plan for the Free Library, underscored by a new mission to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. In addition, Ms. Reardon is working with Mayor Michael A. Nutter to set an ambitious new agenda for tackling the city’s literacy crisis and equipping all of its citizens with the necessary skills to contribute to the economic vitality of Philadelphia and fully thrive in the 21st century.
Previously, Ms. Reardon was Executive Director of the Westchester (NY) Library System, a 38-member cooperative library system. Prior to that, she was Deputy Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library, serving as Chief Operating Officer of the nation’s fifth largest library system. She also served as Acting Executive Director and Director of Finance, responsible for the Library’s $85 million annual budget. Ms. Reardon began her library career at New York Public Library in several finance roles, including Manager of Budget and Planning.
Ms. Reardon holds a B.A. from SUNY Purchase, an M.A. from Fordham University, and an M.L.S. from the Palmer School of Library Science at Long Island University. She serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Education Fund, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, and is chair of the board of Lyrasis, a library services organization. She is a resident of the Logan Square neighborhood of Philadelphia.
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The Free Library of Philadelphia system consists of 49 branches, three regional libraries, the Parkway Central Library, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. With more than 6 million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia.
SmartCEO is an exclusive community of CEOs and business leaders with a mission to educate, motivate, and inspire our community through the pages of our magazine, connections at our C-level events and access to valuable online resources. With over 10 years of consistent growth, our communities comprise business leaders who are visionaries, mentors, and well-respected leaders whose experiences benefit their own organizations and the communities in which they serve. Growing companies are SmartCEO companies.
07/19/2012
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850