New City Librarian Welcomed

Will supermarket-style self-checkout become part of the ​“customer experience” for city library patrons? Christopher Korenowsky hopes so.

Korenowsky took over as New Haven’s head librarian on Oct. 4. Deborah Brown (pictured with him, above), a stalwart with the Stetson Branch book club, was one of some 75 people on hand to give Korenowsky a warm reception Thursday night at the main library branch.

Korenowsky, 38, comes to New Haven from being director of professional development for the Ohio Library Council, which represents 251 libraries statewide. (Click here for a previous article with brief bio.)

In his remarks at Thursday night’s event he acknowledged many library employees, calling specifically each of the branch librarians by name and praising their individual programs in knowledgeable detail.

That included an encomium for this book, based on Katro Storm’s Stetson Library mural, which a Southern Connecticut State University graduate librarian student wrote as her thesis. (He’s pictured speaking with Dr. Clara Ogbaa, director of Gateway Community College libraries.)

Korenowsky said that his top priority will always be the quality experience of library user, or as he termed him, the ​“customer.”

“We are competing [for] people’s time and attention,” he said.

Down the road that might include self-check out. ​“We’re actually looking it. You scan your card, wand them [the items being checked out], and receive a printed receipt with the date.”

That frees up staff to work with customers, he added. ​“Self-check out in effect removes barriers between staff and customers.”

Also, as at a supermarket, ​“If you go to one branch, it should be the same in all,” he said.

“That’s not to say we’re creating cookie-cutter branches. Each should retain its uniqueness, the collection reflect the community.”

Chapman said Korenowsky was selected from an initial field of 80 because of his technological expertise, his vision, and his passion for libraries. Korenowsky said he was a page at his middle school library at age 13.

The city’s sixth head librarian said no draconian changes should be expected in the coming months. He’s going to begin with surveys and focus groups. ​“I’m a believer in numbers,” he said.

In an era when libraries are closing in some communities – and where city staff cuts have also affected the NHFPL in recent years – Korenowsky said he is optimistic. ​“Having the voice of the community as we exist to serve them will see us through.”

Before Korenowsky made his remarks, speakers praised outgoing City Librarian James Welbourne, who retired at the beginning of October. The mayor called Welbourne, a gentle man with a mentoring touch, ​“a treasure.” Library Board President Elsie Chapman credited Welbourne with bringing the New Haven Free Public Library into the technological era, reaching out to families, seniors, and immigrants, and building the Wilson Branch in the Hill.

Welbourne was too ill to attend the event. Applause broke out in his honor when state Sen. Toni Harp read a tribute from the state delegation and pronounced the library, which Welbourne had championed since 2000, ​“critically important to a democracy” in the era of the 60-second sound bite.