Olga V Castañeda
Ceres Library Supervisor, Stanislaus County Library
Olga Valencia Castañeda began her career with the Stanislaus County Library System in 2002. Since then Olga has enjoyed an increasing appreciation of the untapped power public libraries wield to transform people’s lives. Varying assignments with Stanislaus County Library include service as the Oakdale Branch and Patterson Branch Library Supervisor, Children’s Regional Librarian and her current position as the Youth Services Outreach Librarian. Through her leadership, Olga has helped bring about positive changes in the communities where she works. Her skills in collaboration with the local leaders from city government, schools, non-profits, and the private sector have led to these improvements.
At present Olga is focused on serving disenfranchised families with children ages 0-18. Helping incarcerated youth with their literacy needs is also part of her duties. Olga has personal as well as professional experience with immigrant communities and is sensitive to those experiencing poverty and neglect. Olga’s bilingual and biliterate skills with Spanish and English are great assets. She easily engages with people and then helps to motivate and encourage them forward.
Olga holds a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Systems from California State University, San Jose. She hopes that through the Irvine New Leadership Network she will be able to develop the professional relationships necessary to more efficiently educate members of our community who are difficult to reach in order to create lasting change.