A fearless champion for the role of libraries in society, Lawrence will lead the second-largest public library foundation in the nation.
Following an extensive national search in partnership with Lindauer, The Board of Directors of The Seattle Public Library Foundation has announced Brian Lawrence as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Lawrence previously served as the Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director. According to the Foundation, he stood out in a field of outstanding candidates due to his overall vision for advancing the library’s mission, his stellar reputation in Seattle and beyond, and the track record he has established at the Foundation.
“Brian has been an integral part of the Foundation’s success, and he is highly respected in our organization, at the library, and by donors and many others in our community,” said Board President Sarah Stanley. “His energy and enthusiasm for stepping into this role, and his vision for expanding equity and access, are clear. We’re excited about how he will move the Foundation forward.”
Since 2017, Lawrence has spearheaded the Foundation’s fundraising campaigns, overseen key investments to grow library programs and collections, and strengthened partnerships with library staff and community organizations. He has established himself as a thoughtful voice on the role of libraries in our society, recently demonstrated by his leadership role in the national Books Unbanned initiative.
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner at the head of the Foundation than Brian,” said Tom Fay, Chief Librarian & Executive Director of The Seattle Public Library. “He has shown great commitment to our library, our staff, and our patrons. Many of our services have been enhanced through the work of Brian and his team, and he’s been a great thought partner as we’ve developed our strategic framework this year. He is well positioned to support our objectives and has deep connections to our supporter network.”
After longtime CEO Jonna Ward announced her departure earlier this year, the Board engaged Lindauer to select a leader who could steer the organization into the future. The search for Ward’s successor was led by Lindauer Senior Executive Vice President Libby Roberts and Senior Consultant Josh Maker.