Pine Plains Free Library Welcomes DeeAnn Campbell as Director

The Pine Plains Free Library begins a new chapter with the appointment of DeeAnn Campbell as director. 

Situated in downtown Pine Plains, the municipal library — the oldest public library in Dutchess County, at 225 years old — has five part-time staff members and an annual operating budget of $191,322. Campbell, who officially began her full-time position with the library on March 18, will be responsible for administering the budget, overseeing staff, providing reference services to library users and preparing reports, as well as overseeing library operations and materials.

Campbell brings a variety of experiences to her new role. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, her background includes work in public relations, marketing, operations, business development and nonfiction publishing. “I am a self-employed English major, so I do whatever it takes to make a living,” she said. Campbell has volunteered at the library since 2021, assisting with children’s programming and other projects under former director Alexis Tackett. 

The library listed the job in December following the resignation of Tackett, who had been the library director from April 2021 to Nov. 2023. Tackett resigned due to an immediate family member’s illness, necessitating her return to her hometown in Texas. 

Tackett and members of the library’s board of trustees selected four candidates for interviews, inviting two back to interview with the entire board. “I am genuinely thrilled the board went with DeeAnn both personally and professionally,” said Tackett. “We have worked together over the last few years and have bonded closely. She is not only a great person but a great administrator and I have no doubt she will bring the Pine Plains Free Library into a new era.”

Tackett has remained employed to the library in a part-time, remote capacity, in order to help give the board time to find a suitable director and assist in their training. Tackett will help train Campbell over the next month, and will make her final departure following the library’s April 16 board meeting.

“Pine Plains has a great library,” Campbell said. “I hope people come and visit and see what we have and what we’re adding. It’s astonishing to be in a place that has been here for this long, where people have loved books for this long. It is an honor to be here, it truly is.”

During their March 19 board meeting, the library’s board of trustees announced that total circulation at the library increased from 10,428 total items in circulation in 2020, to 14,703 in 2023. “Our circulation is up 30%” which is really impressive,” Campbell said. “I’m looking forward to building on this positive momentum.”

At the urging of Tackett, a member of the Herald’s board of directors, the power of who determines the library’s budget shifted from Town Hall directly to voters. 

In 2023, Pine Plains voted overwhelmingly to increase the amount of money the library receives from the town by 68%, to $166,900. “The new funding is a testament to the community’s support for the library.” Campbell said. I plan to conduct a survey to better understand our patrons’ needs and see which programs we could expand or introduce.”

“We are excited to welcome DeeAnn,” said Claire Gunning, president of the library’s board of trustees and a volunteer with the Herald. “Because she has been volunteering already in the library, we aren’t starting totally fresh. She has some great ideas as to what the next steps might be for us. She brings skills of grant writing and marketing, so we can start pursuing additional funding to make some additions to our programming and facilities.”

Originally from the Dallas area, Campbell moved with her family to Clermont, west of Pine Plains, in July 2019. Her husband is an aerospace engineer and together they have two children — a sophomore and a senior — at Stissing Mountain High School.

“When I moved up here, I didn’t know anything about living in the Northeast,” Campbell said. “I came up and saw that Pine Plains has a library, and Red Hook has a library and every little town has a library. They don’t have that in Texas — you have to drive forever to get to a library.”

As a vital resource in Pine Plains, the library serves as a cultural and educational hub with its diverse programs and services such as accessible yoga, children’s activities, book clubs, English language classes, free Wi-Fi, and access to e-books and digital streaming services.

One of Campbell’s priorities is to evaluate the success of current offerings and explore innovative ideas implemented by other libraries. “From seed catalogs to tool libraries, there are many exciting directions we can take,” she said. “However, any changes will be thoughtful and reflective of our patrons’ desires.” The library’s strong children’s programs are a testament to its commitment to catering to all age groups, and Campbell is keen to maintain and potentially enhance these offerings based on community feedback.

Campbell is currently reading “Destiny of the Republic” by Candace Millardwith the library’s nonfiction book club. As for the destiny of the Pine Plains Free Library? As she steps into her new role, Campbell is guided by a commitment to ensure the library remains a dynamic and responsive community resource. 

“I understand how important it is to get books in people’s hands, to read, and broaden their horizons.” Campbell said. “You don’t know what you’re missing if you don’t come to the library. There is no algorithm that’s gonna guide you in the library. It’s your imagination and your sense of wonder. You are your own person in a library.” 

To stay up to date on the latest events and offerings at the library or to contact DeeAnn Campbell, visit the library’s website.