Orange County Library System’s Board of Trustees has selected Steve Powell to become its new Library Director/CEO. He has been serving as the library’s Interim Director/CEO and COO since January.

He was selected from among three finalists for the position, all of whom had impressive backgrounds in
library service. After an eight-month-long search, interviews by the library’s Director Search Committee
in July and final interviews on August 20, the Board agreed that Powell was the right choice to lead
Orange County Library System into the future.

“What made Steve stand apart from the other candidates was the institutional knowledge he brings to
the role, and the initiative he has taken over the past seven months as Interim Director,” said Crockett
Bohannon, President of the library’s Board of Trustees. “He worked hard to not just keep things running
smoothly at the library, but to keep things moving forward while waiting for a new director to be
selected. Steve’s commitment to Orange County Library System and his fresh approach to how we serve
our community is inspiring. I am excited about the future of the library under his leadership.”

Accomplishments during his tenure as Interim Director include finalizing leases for new branches in both
the Lake Nona and Horizon West communities; making changes that allow farmworkers and kids living in
foster homes to have access to library services; and extending automatic renewals for library materials,
which reduces the likelihood that library users will be burdened with late fees. He also introduced a
Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility Committee to help the library cultivate an environment in
which everyone in the community and on staff feels like they belong.

Powell has been with Orange County Library System since 2007, when he was hired to take the role of
Service Manager. He was promoted to Facilities and Operations Department Head in 2011, and in 2018,
he was named the library’s Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed to the role of Interim
Director/CEO in January 2022, which has given the library’s staff, board and community partners a
chance to get to know him better.

About Orange County Library System

Orange County Library System is a public library system that operates 15 locations in Orange County,
Florida. Its mission is to create a learning environment that fosters personal growth and development so
that customers have opportunities to learn, explore and become the best that they can be.

Photo Credit: Orange County Library System

Date Posted: August 29, 2022