Debra Lay

Debra is a New England native working in California as the Executive Director and Vice President of Library Operations for the Riverside County Library System, a 7,000 square mile territory encompassing 35 libraries and 2 museums. Her former experience includes overseeing a non-profit library in Arizona as its Executive Director and as Director of a community library in mid-coast Maine. Prior to changing professional lanes into the world of information science, she spent 25 years as a classroom teacher and eventually a principal in public education in Massachusetts and Maine. She earned a Master’s degree in Education from Lesley University, a Doctorate in Education from the University of Phoenix and a second Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons University. She believes that teaching and learning mirrors the library profession in endless ways and sparking curiosity is the key to keeping libraries vibrant, welcoming, and safe for intellectual aspirations.