IRENE PADILLA

Assistant State Superintendent for Library

    Irene Padilla, Assistant State Superintendent for Library Development and Services, Maryland State Department of Education, oversees the Division of Library Development and Services. As the state library agency, the division administers state and federal programs to improve library services in public libraries and schools throughout the state. 

    Ms. Padilla served as the Director of the Harford County Public Library System from August 1994 – June 2002.  In that capacity, she led the system through a period of rapid growth.  The system has nine branches and a staff of 338 employees. She has developed and managed an annual budget of $10.6 million, plus a capital improvement budget of $10.5 million.  Three more branches are in the planning stages.

    Prior to becoming director of the Harford system, she served as Deputy Director from April 1990 to August 1994.  She has also worked for libraries in Virginia and Michigan.

   Irene earned both a bachelor of arts and a master of science in librarianship from Western Michigan University.  She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University.

DARIA PARRY

Chief, Public Libraries and State Networking Branch

    Before joining the Division of Library and Development Services, in April 2006, Daria A. Parry enjoyed a brief stint as an Agency Manager with the Montgomery County Public Library, Maryland.  Her CV includes administrative posts in Tacoma, Washington as Dean of Library Services for Bates Technical College; Community Access and Facilities Manager with the Eugene Public Library in Eugene, Oregon; Youth Services / Outreach Coordinator for the Washoe County Library System in Reno, Nevada and Manager, Division of Central Library Services in Lee County, Florida.

   As Branch Chief, Ms. Parry is responsible for providing leadership to public libraries for related technology, training, marketing, research, planning, resource sharing activities, evaluation and the development and implementation of educational support for pre-K through 18.

   In addition to her experience in administration and operations Daria holds a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from The University of South Florida, (Tampa, Florida) as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Rhode Island (Kingston, Rhode Island).

Susan Paznekas

Public Library Consultant

    Susan Paznekas is a Chicago native who moved to Baltimore in 1976.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern Illinois University with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Education.  She received her Master’s degree in Library Science from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in 1972.

  
   Susan began her career as the assistant librarian for the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago after receiving her master’s degree.  In 1973, she moved on to become the assistant librarian for the Environmental Protection Agency Region V in Chicago.  In 1976, she moved to Baltimore and received a promotion to transfer to the U.S. Treasury Department Library in Washington, DC, as the Acquisitions Librarian.  In 1978, she received a promotion to Assistant Librarian at the U.S. Customs Service.  In 1983, she left the federal government to become the Director of the Government Reference Service at the State Library Resource Center at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore City.  In 1989, she became a public library consultant with DLDS.

  Susan was initially hired to develop and implement the Health Information Project – a four-year project designed to enhance the delivery of health information to the public through Maryland public libraries.  When that project was completed, Susan was tapped to be the LSCA Coordinator for Maryland and subsequently, the LSTA Coordinator.  In 2003, she became the Evaluation Officer for DLDS specializing in outcome-based evaluation.  In the fall of 2005, she was asked to be acting Branch Chief.  In April of 2006, with a new Branch Chief in place, she resumed her role as Evaluation Officer and also specializes in grant writing and strategic planning.

Stephanie Shauck

Youth Services Coordinator

 
    Stephanie is a native of Maryland who has taught and worked as a public, school and academic librarian. Her experience as an elementary school teacher and librarian, academic librarian at Towson University, script coordinator for Romper Room and the most satisfying as a public librarian enable her to enjoy working with agencies, groups and individuals who focus on public library service to youth, their families and communities. 

 
    Stephanie holds a bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Towson State College and a Masters of Library Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. She enjoys sharing ongoing learning and professional activities with colleagues from DLDS, the state and nation.

Paula Isett

Marketing and Outreach Specialist

    With years of experience in the early childhood field, Paula began her public library career as the Coordinator of the Birth to Four Program at the Wicomico Public Library.  This position included creating a story time project which collaborated with the local Rotary Club to provide child care providers with a free bag of books and monthly story time visits from the library.  An early childhood newsletter was published in order to inform parents of early childhood issues.  As their coordinator, Paula set up programs in Head Start and child care centers.  Paula also managed grant funding and public relations for Salisbury University.  Paula is responsible for providing leadership in outreach, marketing support, and training for Maryland libraries.

 
    Paula earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Salisbury University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Temple College.  She is a Master of Library Science candidate at Drexel University. 

CAROLYN SHEFFIELD

LSTA Coordinator