Turning the page with new CEO Brian Lawrence
After longtime CEO Jonna Ward departed the Foundation earlier this year, the Board of Directors conducted an extensive national search and identified the right person to lead our next chapter: Brian Lawrence.
Brian, previously the Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director, joined the organization in 2017 and is already well-known in our community as an enthusiastic voice for the library’s mission and values. We asked him a few questions about the new vision he will bring and his perspective on what is ahead for supporters of the library:
Where does your passion for libraries come from?
I became a reader in my 20s when I was travelling regularly for work. But my “aha” moment came when I was working at The Mockingbird Society. We were launching a new program to support youth who were experiencing homelessness. I learned about the deep connections between young leaders and teen librarians. The teens saw libraries as safe and welcoming spaces and chose to have their monthly meetings at the University Branch. It opened my eyes to the wide variety of services that libraries offer in addition to the books we love. It made me realize the power of the library’s reach and how it connects so many community partners. I often say that many overlook the fact that the library is among our community’s most important service organizations, with so many important connections.
Pictured: Brian (left) chats with librarians at the High Point Branch.
What experiences brought you to this position?
Out of college, I worked in auto racing on television production and later sponsorship and promotions. It was fun delivering value to a racing team’s sponsors, but my heart wasn’t in the commercial side of the work. When I moved to Seattle and began doing promotional work for the Pacific Science Center, I discovered how cool it was to connect young people to education programs that were fun. I then followed great leaders to other nonprofits and learned new skills at every stage. It is a great career to be able to play matchmaker between donors who care deeply and causes that have deep community impact.
What has been the most inspiring part about your work with the library and Foundation?
I love working with our supporters. So many share powerful stories of how libraries have shaped their lives. Everyone has a library story. For some, a book exposed them to a life-changing idea. For others, physical libraries were places of solace. When I have the pleasure of conveying information about the library’s diverse programs, there is usually a deep sense of connection and satisfaction. I also believe deeply in what library staff are trying to accomplish. Every chance I can get to learn about program impact, I take it.
What’s on the horizon that most excites you? What challenges lie ahead?
I was honored to be on the team that helped shape the library’s upcoming strategic plan. It is tough work to define where the library should focus in order to have the most impact among so many competing priorities. I have confidence in Chief Librarian Tom Fay’s direction and I’m eager to shape how the Foundation supports the identified community outcomes.
The financial demands facing the library are significant. Increased building and maintenance costs, higher-priced e-materials, and demand for online resources and programs make the enhancements the Foundation provides even more important. I’m excited about welcoming new donors, seeking transformational investments, and building our endowment for the long term.
We also must pass a levy renewal in 2026, which is both a challenge and opportunity. Based on my travels to other U.S. libraries, it’s scary to see what can happen when libraries are not prioritized as essential services.
What are the biggest opportunities for growth for the Foundation?
We have a tremendously loyal donor base. So many of our supporters have been making gifts for 10, 20, and 30 years. At the same time, we need to expand and diversify our base of donors and advocates. We need more community representation, more corporations and family foundations investing in our work, and more people telling the full story of how our library impacts the community. So my message to our supporters: help us spread the word!
In five years, what do you hope the Foundation will be known for?
I’d like the Foundation to be the catalyst for new and innovative programs that bring the community together in library spaces. Libraries have always been places that facilitate conversations and host programming for people of all ages, but we can amplify those efforts. With more programming and active engagement, our libraries can serve as important community hubs. I’d like teens to be able to come to a library and see what an AI supercomputer looks like. I’d like older adults to visit regularly and find a community willing to offer support, friendship, and technical assistance on a range of services. I’d like families to see libraries as places to visit at every stage of their life.
What do public libraries mean to our society?
Libraries are trusted to connect people to knowledge and information. They are one of the few places where anyone can go without a cost barrier. That is crucial. They are places—both physical and virtual—where the spirit of “sharing” is alive and well among people with a rich diversity of backgrounds. And when we share knowledge and stories, we build empathy and understanding. The library offers so much value to our society, and by investing in it, you invest in so many resources that benefit others.
What’s your favorite book? And what’s the best experience you’ve had through a library?
For years, my favorite book was A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Today, it’s a toss-up between that and our 2018 Seattle Reads pick, Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing. I was deeply moved by the generational journey of Gyasi’s book.
One of my best experiences came as I was writing a grant focused on “livable cities.” I was stuck trying to define and prioritize my response. Having heard about the “Ask a Librarian” feature on SPL.org, I sent in a query. I was blown away by the response and the assistance provided. It saved me hours of web searching. ChatGPT and AI are no match for a well-trained SPL librarian!