NJ State Library appoints Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer as Deputy State Librarian

New Jersey State Librarian Mary Chute announced today that Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer will rejoin the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) as the new Deputy State Librarian for Library Support Services. Reporting to the State Librarian, the Deputy State Librarian for Library Support Services oversees the interpretation of library law for New Jersey’s libraries and supervises statistical processes. The Library Support Services unit also manages the State Library’s grant programs, which includes the per capita state aid program and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), for which Ms. Moller-Peiffer will serve as the LSTA Coordinator.

Ms. Moeller-Peiffer brings a wealth of experience to the State Library, including serving as State Librarian of New Mexico since 2015. She begins in her new capacity at the New Jersey State Library on October 16.

“I feel extremely fortunate to be able to welcome our colleague, friend, and former employee back to NJSL in what is a new role for her,” said Mary Chute, New Jersey State Librarian. “We have a number of important Library Support Services related issues in the works and it is a tremendous benefit to have someone in this role who is already familiar with the New Jersey library community and the State Library.”

“I am delighted to be returning to the New Jersey State Library,” said Ms. Moeller-Peiffer. “I very much enjoyed working with my colleagues at the State Library and within the New Jersey library community in my previous position, and I look forward to supporting statewide projects and initiatives along with the Library Support Services staff.”

Prior to joining the New Mexico State Library, Ms. Moeller-Peiffer served in a variety of positions at the New Jersey State Library, including Grants Specialist, Director of Library Development, Associate State Librarian for Legislative and Special Projects, and Deputy State Librarian for Lifelong Learning. Previously, she was the Head of the Information Technology Department at the Durham County Library (NC) where she was responsible for bringing staff and public Internet access to a Main Library, seven branches and a bookmobile, as well as writing LSTA grants in order to support and expand this project. Previously, she was County Librarian at the Orange County Public Library (NC), where she began a Friends of the Library group, purchased a new bookmobile and moved the library to a new facility. Her first professional job in the library field was as Assistant County Librarian at the Columbia County Public Library (FL).

Ms. Moeller-Peiffer is a graduate of the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She also holds an MSLS from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Florida State University in Tallahassee.