News Release: February 18, 2005
Library Board of Trustees Appoints New Director

The San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Ramiro S. Salazar as Library Director. The appointment concludes a year-long process during which a national search identified an initial field of eighteen applicants. In explaining some of the reasons behind the Board’s choice, John Nicholas, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, stated “Mr. Salazar has a proven track record as a successful Library Director of a large urban library system. He also has a reputation for forging partnerships with the community to enhance the Library’s programs and services. The Board really liked his partnership approach and obvious personal commitment to ensuring the Library takes a leadership role in addressing literacy and educational problems within the community.”

Mr. Salazar is currently an Interim Assistant City Manager in Dallas, Texas. Since June 2004 he has had oversight responsibility for the following City Departments: Dallas Public Library, Business Development and Procurement Services, Office of Cultural Affairs and the Public Information Office. He was the Director of the Dallas Public Library from 1993 to 2004, and served as Director of the El Paso Public Library from 1990 to 1993. Prior to this, Mr. Salazar was the Library Services Administrator at the San Antonio Public Library from 1984 to 1989. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&I and a Masters of Library Science from Texas Womens University.

Mr. Salazar has served on numerous professional and community advisory boards throughout his career, including those of the American Library Association, Texas Library Association, Literacy Instruction For Texas (LIFT), Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences. He also served as President of the Dallas Concillio, and was named 1998 Librarian of the Year by REFORMA, National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking. In addition, Mr. Salazar was named 1996 Library Director of the Year by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association.

Contacted in Dallas, Mr. Salazar stated that he is “…looking forward to returning to San Antonio to begin working with the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Foundation, the Friends, the City staff and the citizens of San Antonio to provide the best library services to the community.” Mr. Salazar continued, “Public libraries, by their very nature, have an inherent responsibility to be inclusive and responsive to the needs and expectations of their customers. I firmly believe in creating and supporting an organizational culture that is driven by positive energy - a culture that embraces change, supports risk taking, encourages creativity, values individuality, supports two-way communication and fosters mutual trust and respect.”

He expects to be on board with the San Antonio Public Library in early April.

Posted/Updated: 03/03/2005