Posted February 25, 2005.

Luis Herrera Named Head of San Francisco Public Library

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson has appointed Luis Herrera, director of information services for the city of Pasadena, California, as city librarian for the city and county of San Francisco. Herrera, who will become the first Latino to hold the position, succeeds Susan Hildreth, who left in 2004 to become California state librarian.

“I am honored to follow in the tradition of great city librarians of San Francisco,” Herrera said. “I look forward to working in a world-class city to provide the best library services to the community.”

Herrera served as deputy director of San Diego Public Library from 1989–95, associate director of Long Beach (Calif.) Public Library from 1983–89, and was also a middle school librarian.

He is past president of the American Library Association’s Public Library Association, the ALA affiliate Reforma: the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, and the California Library Association.

Herrera has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, an MLS from the University of Arizona, and a master of public administration degree from California State University at Long Beach, where he received the Future Urban Administrator Award.

He plans to assume his new position in April.

Posted February 25, 2005.