NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR, NORMAN MAAS, ELECTED TO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Yvonne Hilliard-Bradley Public Services Administrator and Norman L. Maas Director Norfolk Public Library

The ALA is a national organization dedicated "to providing leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all." The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Maas has been the Director of Norfolk Public Library since August 2003. He brought over 30 years of library service experience to NPL. Prior to arriving in Norfolk, Maas worked at the Detroit Public Library and directed the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Michigan and the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

NPL has been the beneficiary of Norm Maas' library experience as he has helped to implement programs such as Family Place (an early childhood literacy initiative) and to push forward progress for Norfolk's new 30,000 square foot Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library, scheduled to open in February 2007. Maas will assume his duties on the ALA Council this July.