Michael Lambert
Biography
Michael Lambert is the first Asian American to serve as city librarian for the City and County of San Francisco. He was appointed to the position in March 2019 by Mayor London Breed. During his tenure, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) was named the 2018 National Library of the Year by Library Journal. As city librarian he has championed increased and equitable access to libraries through expanded hours and a fine-free library system.
Prior to his employment with the City and County of San Francisco, Lambert managed library operations at San Mateo County Libraries and at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina. He began his career in his hometown of Columbia, SC at the Richland Library. He is an alumnus of the University of South Carolina with a degree in History and earned his Master of Library and Information Science degree from South Carolina’s College of Library and Information Science.
He is the proud father of James Michael Lambert, a freshman studying at the University of Hawaii.
Personal Statement
“I would like to serve as the president of the Public Library Association (PLA) to share passion for public service and my belief in the transformational power of libraries to help people live their best lives. Public libraries anchor neighborhoods across this country as vital social infrastructure, and I am excited for PLA's opportunities to showcase the incredible contributions of library workers to the resilience and vibrancy of our local communities.”