Laurel Prysiazny

Laurel Prysiazny
Retired County Librarian, Fresno County Public Library

Laurel was the County Librarian for Fresno County, responsible for providing library services to the residents of Fresno County through 34 branches, 2 bookmobiles, and 292 staff with a budget of approximately $26 million. As the County Librarian, Laurel helped pass Measure B by a 73.27% majority, restructured library services, increasing efficiencies with the implementation of new technologies and services, particularly in the behind-the-scenes cataloging and ordering department, and has opened a career center providing direct one-to-one support to people needing job search assistance in 6 branches. She has also expanded access to WiFi, introduced E-Books, renovated three libraries, and introduced public library service to the community of Biola in a joint library-school district partnership as of Sept. 1^st – the first of its kind in Fresno County.

Laurel has been working in libraries since 1976, starting as a student assistant in a university setting in Canada as she worked on her undergraduate degree. She has one husband–Dwayne, 2 Shetland Sheep Dogs—Spirit and Phantom, and lives at Quail Lake in Clovis.

[quote]I have an innovation in the planning stages that will revolutionize the way the Library delivers its information services to the community. This will allow people to receive help from talented library staff at their place of work, at home, where the recreate, and where they attend school. The Library is one of the cornerstones of the community and literacy for all generations and all sectors is our priority. We have the opportunity to connect with a cross section of agencies and sectors to better the Valley, through educational programming, services, and material resources. In the end, the Valley will improve economically, spiritually, and culturally.”[/quote]