The New York Public Library (NYPL) is pleased to announce that it has named Brent Reidy its Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries. Reidy served as the Library’s interim director since April of this year, following the retirement of William Kelly, the former Mellon Director. Reidy’s tenure will begin immediately.
Reidy will be responsible for NYPL’s world-renowned public research centers, which includes the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, and the Yoseloff Business Center. The research centers encompass 460 staff members, 47 million collection items and 4 million annual visitors. His purview includes collection strategy, acquisition, preservation, and access, while also serving as a national voice on the direction of humanities research.
“We knew that we needed someone with a compelling, pragmatic and ambitious vision to lead the Research Library in the 21st Century,” said Anthony W. Marx, President of The New York Public Library. “I am thrilled to announce that after an exhaustive search we have found that person in our long-time colleague Brent Reidy. Brent’s demonstrated leadership experience and his sophisticated approach to systems, processes, and structure make him ideal for this crucial role. But what has always most impressed me about Brent is his deep passion for the Library’s public mission. His enthusiasm and commitment are exactly what the Library needs right now.”
“The Research Library is one of the most storied institutions in the world, with an unparalleled public mission that makes it unique among its peers,” said Reidy. “I am deeply honored to be able to work alongside the talented individuals that bring this mission to life everyday. The Library’s goal of providing free access to and advancing knowledge is imperative as we navigate the challenges of the 21st century. I look forward to working with my colleagues to build upon the Library’s extraordinary record of accomplishments, and to meet those challenges head on.”
Prior to his appointment, Reidy served as the Senior Director for Digital Research where he led the team responsible for digitization, digital preservation, and access for the library’s research collections. Under his stewardship, the Library doubled its digital storage, launched a digitization strategy focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and increased access to the Library’s extensive collection of digitized books.
Reidy began his tenure at NYPL in May 2017 as Deputy Director, and later Interim Executive Director, for the Library for the Performing Arts. He was previously a Senior Consultant at AEA Consulting, a global management consulting firm serving the cultural sector, where he worked on projects for organizations including the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, the New York Philharmonic, and the Frick Collection.
Reidy holds a BA from Dartmouth College in Music and a PhD from Indiana University in Musicology. His areas of research include the development of a national cultural policy under the Kennedy Administration.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
