Wake County announces new library director

Wake County announced Wednesday that following an extensive search, Tammy Baggett has been named the new director of Wake County Public Libraries.

In this role, she will lead the library system’s 639 employees and have responsibility over the county’s 23 public libraries.

“With her blend of leadership skills and passion for delivering high quality library services, Tammy is well positioned to lead Wake County Public Libraries into the future,” said Susan Evans, vice chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “We are so excited to welcome her to Team Wake.”

Baggett comes to Wake County from Durham County Library, where she’s served as director for the past 13 years. In this role, she’s worked to elevate the organization by building a cohesive and innovative team of employees as well as strong community support. She has extensive experience with developing and implementing policies, providing strategic direction and working collaboratively.

Some of Baggett’s accomplishments include:

• Successfully advising on a $1.5 million campaign for Durham County Library in partnership with the Library Foundation in 2016 and 2020.
  
• Educating and informing the community on a $44.3 million bond for the transformation of Durham County Main Library.
  
• Collaborating with library public relations staff to win the John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award and being selected as one of only two libraries in North Carolina invited to the White House for the National Library Card Campaign.

Baggett received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications/public relations from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University, where she received her master’s degree in library science. In addition to Durham, she has worked at William Madison Randall Library at UNC-Wilmington, New Hanover County Public Library, Forsyth County Public Library, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

“I’m humbled by this opportunity to join Team Wake and to serve the community and staff of Wake County Public Libraries,” Baggett said. “I have a passion for every aspect of library services and am excited to collaboratively move the mission of the organization forward.”

Baggett’s first day with Wake County Public Libraries will be Aug. 15. Mike Wasilick, the most recent library director, retired last year after 36 years with Wake County, 14 of which he spent as director.

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