Carolyn Wagner Named Executive Director of Library Foundation of Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES -- Carolyn D. Wagner, who has more than 25 years of nonprofit and educational experience in Southern California, has been named executive director of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that raises private funds to enhance the programs and services of the Los Angeles Public Library. E[acute accent]Reporting to the Library Foundation Board and working closely with City Librarian Fontayne Holmes, Wagner will manage all foundation activities and staff. She will develop and lead comprehensive fund-raising initiatives and strategies, while also promoting awareness of the foundation and its mission. One of Wagner's initial priorities will be to update the Library Foundation's long-term strategic plan, working closely with the board-appointed strategic development committee. E[acute accent]"Carolyn has devoted her career to marshaling support for lifelong education and community development," said the Library Foundation's Chairman Thomas R. Miller. "The Los Angeles Public Library today is one of our city's crown jewels, serving a larger population than any other public library in America, and Carolyn's outstanding leadership qualities are well-suited to build on the foundation's very successful legacy of support for this great institution." E[acute accent]Wagner's appointment will become effective June 19. She will succeed Founding Director Evelyn Hoffman, who will retire at the end of June after 15 years of service to the Library Foundation. During Hoffman's tenure, the foundation has raised more than $65 million to support the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library and 71 branches. E[acute accent]"The Library Foundation has helped transform a good library into one of the world's greatest libraries, providing additional books, computers, homework aides, reading programs for children and teens, and cultural programs," said Holmes. "I am delighted to welcome Carolyn, and I look forward to working with her as she expands the extraordinarily successful efforts of the foundation on behalf of the library." E[acute accent]Wagner joins the foundation from Claremont McKenna College. For the past two years, she served as executive director of Claremont McKenna's Kravis Leadership Institute, developing strategic alliances and outreach opportunities with the corporate, educational and nonprofit sectors. E[acute accent]Between 1999 and 2004, she served as director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at Scripps College, another member of the Claremont Colleges consortium. In 2003, Wagner also served as Claremont McKenna's director of Major Gifts, where her efforts helped raise more than $21 million. E[acute accent]From 1998 to 1999, Wagner was director of Programs and External Affairs for the Milken Institute in Santa Monica. There, she created a fund-raising program and expanded outreach to the corporate, financial, government, academic and nonprofit communities. E[acute accent]Between 1993 and 1998, Wagner worked at Claremont Graduate University, first as special assistant to the president and then as associate provost. E[acute accent]From 1980 to 1986, she managed Workman and Temple Homestead, an award-winning historic site museum in the San Gabriel Valley. For four years during that time, she also was president of Historical Perspectives, Inc., a company devoted to historic site management in Southern California. E[acute accent]Wagner earned a doctorate and a master's degree in history from Johns Hopkins University. She received her bachelor's degree in history from Scripps College. E[acute accent]Wagner was selected after a comprehensive search conducted by Korn/Ferry International.

E[acute accent]About the Library Foundation of Los Angeles

E[acute accent]The Library Foundation of Los Angeles was founded in 1992 to encourage private support through memberships, corporate sponsorships, gifts, trusts and bequests for the benefit of the Los Angeles Public Library. E[acute accent]To date, the foundation has raised more than $65 million to help support the Central Library and its 71 neighborhood branches with everything from new books and materials to capital improvements, reading enrichment programs, technology, cultural events and exhibitions. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is also a major advocate for the library, working to promote greater awareness of its many valuable services. For further information, visit the foundation's Web site at www.lfla.org.

E[acute accent]About the Los Angeles Public Library

E[acute accent]The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest population of any library in the country. Its Central Library, 71 branches, 6 million books and state-of-the-art technology provide everyone with free and easy access to information. For further information, visit the library's Web site at www.lapl.org.