Trish Connolly Takes Over as Library Director

So, it’s fitting that last month the library named New Jersey native Trish Connolly as its new library director, replacing Valerie Kilmartin who retired this summer after eight years on the job.

“I was really drawn to the warmth of the community,” Connolly said of Durham.

The 41-year-old grew up in Montclair, a suburb of New York City, and attended Providence College in Rhode Island where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English while dabbling in journalism. She spent her early career in public relations in Manhattan and Boston.

“I didn’t feel excited about going in that direction,” Connolly remembers. “Nobody ever told me to be a librarian but I really looked into it because I always loved libraries. I lived there as a kid.”

In 2004, Connolly earned a Master’s degree in Library Science from Rutgers University and soon took a job as director of Whitman Public Library in Whitman, Massachusetts.

“I like New England. I grew up all my summers in Chatham, Cape Cod. My folks have had a house there since the 70s, so I was really lucky. I just like the culture here,” she said.

Durham is a “perfect fit,” according to Connolly, who considers herself a bookworm.

“I read everything. I tend to read a lot of literary fiction but I love history, I love pop-culture, biographies,” she said. “If somebody says, ‘This is really good,’ I’ll pick up anything,”

In her spare time, Connolly enjoys traveling, spending time with her daughter and skiing. For now though, she's focused on setting the course for the town's hub.

“Once I get a good look at what we’re doing I can see where we want to go,” she said.