FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2019

Contact: Pamela Broussard, Public Information Officer
Office: 562.940.8415, Mobile: 562.940.7106, pbroussard@library.lacounty.gov

SKYE PATRICK, LA COUNTY LIBRARY DIRECTOR, AWARDED WITH DURFEE FOUNDATION STANTON FELLOWSHIP

Skye Patrick has been selected as one of six LA-based recipients to explore some of LA’s most pressing challenges with $100,000 award.

LA County Library spans over a 3,000 square-mile service area and operates 85 community libraries and 1 institutional library for a population of over 3.4 million residents. As an urban area, LA County is highly segregated—by race and ethnicity, national origin, income, educational level, and occupational category. Many residents understand that where you live correlates to your well-being and life chances. LA County Library, under the leadership of Skye Patrick, rose to address the challenges that these communities face.

Patrick was selected by The Durfee Foundation as one of six Los Angeles based residents as a recipient of the Stanton Fellowship, awarding her $100,000 over a 2-year period to explore responses to some of LA’s most pressing challenges.

Skye Patrick was appointed LA County Library Director on February 1, 2016. She was previously Broward County Library’s Director and held leadership roles at Queens Public Library in New York and San Francisco Public Library. Her experience allowed her to connect with different communities, leaders, and libraries—affording her the opportunity to approach challenges with a unique perspective.

Patrick implemented the iCount equity initiative at LA County Library, which ensures the Library makes a conscious effort in designing services and programs that address the needs of the diverse community it serves. This includes customers of a different age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economic status, physical ability, nationality, legal status, and more.

The Library garnered national recognition with 3 Library Journal awards for its innovative and thought-provoking strategies – 2018 Marketer of the Year, 2019 Librarian of the Year, 2019 Library of the Year. Library Leaders from across the world reached out to Patrick to learn how she was leading LA County Library as a model for transforming 21st Century libraries into institutions that address the social, educational, creative, and cultural needs of its residents.

“I am honored by this opportunity that the Durfee Foundation has granted me, along with five other worthy fellows, to discover new ways to make life better for the people of Los Angeles, said Skye Patrick, LA County Library Director. “I will work alongside the Stanton Fellowship recipients to delve deep and work collectively for a brighter future.”

“We look for the most highly networked, deeply knowledgeable, inquisitive leaders,” said
Executive Director of The Durfee Foundation Claire Peeps, “those who are best positioned to make change happen. We are delighted to welcome these six exceptional leaders to the Stanton program.”

Skye Patrick is dedicated to making change – a positive change for the residents of Los Angeles County. Her belief stands firm in knowing public libraries are a space that can provide meaningful and impactful experience for its customers—both young and old, rich and poor, educated or not, homeowners or those experiencing homelessness—through free services that allow residents to live their best lives.

About LA County Library

Founded in 1912, LA County Library is one of the largest and most innovative library systems in the US. It offers free public resources including books, music, multimedia materials, computer and internet access, and educational and recreational services to 3.4 million residents through its 86 libraries and mobile fleet of 12 vehicles, including 3 Bookmobiles, 6 MākMō maker mobiles, and 3 Reading Machines. LA County Library is dedicated to reducing barriers and increasing access to and equity of public services for all. To learn more, visit LACountyLibrary.org.