Ruth Lufkin, supervising reference librarian at the Bernards Township Library, has been chosen by the Library Board of Trustees as the next library director to replace Anne Meany, due to retire at the end of 2011.

Along with many kudos from officials, Lufkin's appointment was on Tuesday night confirmed by all five members of the Township Committee. Township Committeeman John Carpenter said Lufkin, a township resident, is his neighbor.

Tim Opremcak, president of the Bernards Township Library Board of Trustees, said Lufkin would start her new position on Jan. 2, after Meaney retires at the end of 2011.

The board voted in favor of Lufkin's appointment on Oct. 19, Opremcak said. Lufkin will start her new position on January, 2, 2012, succeeding Anne Meany. Lufkin presently is the supervisory reference librarian and has over 16 years of library experience.

She said she started her career at the library as an assistant in the childrens' library.

“We were impressed with Ruth’s passion and her desire to provide superior library services to meet the evolving needs of our residents. We are confident that Ruth will build upon all of our wonderful programs and we look forward to working with her," Opremcak said. Lufkin holds a Masters of Library and Information Science from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Elmira College, according to information from the Library Board of Trustees and Lufkin.

Scott Spitzer, the committee's liasion to the library board, said that the library board undertook a careful search for a new library director before deciding to promote from within.

"Ms. Meany has served us extremely well for many years," Spitzer added. "The library is in very strong shape."