Ken Bennett has appointed Joan Clark of Chandler as Arizona’s new state librarian. Clark was chosen after an exhaustive nationwide search and replaces GladysAnn Wells who in retired in 2011. The State Library, Archives and Public Records is a division of the Secretary of State’s office and serves the legislature and public by providing access to research and information; additionally, it works to ensure Arizona’s history is documented and preserved.
Most recently Clark had been interim director for the Arizona Capitol Museum and Deputy Director of the State Library. Previously she served as program manager for the implementation, development and delivery of the three-year Arizona Equal Access Libraries Initiative to help libraries assess and respond to changing community needs. Clark has been centrally involved in winning high-profile grants for the library and museum.
Prior to joining the Arizona State Library, Clark had extensive marketing and management experience with AT&T Corporation. She has held leadership positions in business research, corporate training, marketing and strategic planning, in addition to representing AT&T as a liaison to industry associations.
As a Brookings Institution Congressional Fellow, Clark served on the legislative staff of U.S. Congresswoman Nancy L. Johnson. Representative Johnson guided federal legislation in the areas of public housing, childcare, women’s issues and funding for the arts.
A native of New Jersey, Clark’s career began there as a public school teacher. She is a Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude graduate of Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and she holds a Masters of Library Science degree from Rutgers University.