Candidate for PLA Director-at-Large

Derek Wolfgram is director of Redwood City Public Library, where he focuses on community collaborations, equity and inclusion efforts, and creating experiences to help people share the joys of literacy and learning. Since earning his Master of Library Science degree from Kent State University, Wolfgram’s twenty-eight-year career in public libraries has also included management and administrative roles at Denver Public Library, Butte County Library, and Santa Clara County Library District. During Wolfgram’s eleven years with the City of Redwood City, he has also served as interim human resources manager for the city, as well as a sixteen-month assignment as the interim director of parks, recreation, and community services for the city. Wolfgram served three years on the PLA Leadership Development Committee (including one year as chair), as well as being a member of the ALA Nominating Committee. He has been both president and treasurer of the California Library Association, along with chairing several committees and serving on many others.

In the past decade, Wolfgram has delivered thirty-five conference and webinar presentations for ICMA, League of California Cities, PLA, Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, California Library Association, Pacific Library Partnership Future of Libraries Conference, Libraries Lead the Way Community Engagement Conference, and more. Wolfgram is treasurer of Redwood City International, and an active member of the Welcoming Redwood City Working Group and the Chamber San Mateo County Education/Workforce Committee. He is a past member of the San Mateo County Pride Center Community Advisory Board. In 2017, Wolfgram was named “Mr. Sesquicentennial” as part of the Mr. Redwood City pageant. He is also an avid homebrewer of over twenty-five years, and a certified beer judge. Wolfgram and his wife Robin live in Redwood City with their dog Izzy, a Whippet/Carolina Dog/Border Collie/Rat Terrier mix who was rescued from Caborca, Sonora, Mexico.

Personal Statement

“I am deeply grateful for the professional development opportunities PLA has provided to me for decades, but more importantly I am indebted to the organization for the relationships it has allowed me to build with colleagues across the country. We are stronger together, and I look forward to continuing to give back to PLA by contributing my time and talent to fostering those same opportunities for others.”