Library director found in UCLA grad

The city has announced that Stephanie Beverage has been appointed as the new city library director.

“We are very fortunate to have a person of such varied experience and background working for our city,” said City Administrator Fred Wilson, who appointed Beverage.

The appointment was approved by the City Council on Dec. 1; Beverage was appointed Jan. 5.

Beverage replaces Ron Hayden, who spent 38 years in the library system — 23 as its director.

Following his retirement, effective Oct. 31, the city began a nationwide recruitment process. Out of 21 applicants presented, six interviewed with the city.

After graduating from high school in Orange County, Beverage attended UCLA for her undergraduate degree in history before attending Georgetown University for a master’s degree in early modern and medieval European history. She then received a master’s in library and information science at UCLA.

Beverage has worked at many public libraries in Southern California, beginning at the Ontario City Library.

She then worked for the Los Angeles and Orange County public library systems, as well as libraries in Alhambra and South Pasadena.

Most recently, she served as the regional manager of the Orange County Public Library’s South Region.

Beverage is known for seeing libraries as transformational places in communities, the city said.

The current starting salary for the city library director is $64.80 per hour, or $134,784 per year.

Beverage lives in Placentia with her husband and two cats.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.