Batavia Public Library manager to receive Library Leader award

Batavia Public Library has announced it will recognize Deputy Director Joanne Zillman with its Library Leader award in honor of her leadership and devotion to literacy and the library with an event at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at 10 S. Batavia Ave.

According to a news release from the library, Zillman is a no-nonsense leader who always puts children and their families first. Partnering with organizations throughout Batavia, she champions the library the services it provides to the community.

The Library Leader is an award bestowed biennially to individuals whose instrumental work benefits the library district, its services and the Batavia community.

Zillman has worked for the library for 26 years and is known for overseeing the Youth Services Department’s Summer Reading Club programs. She is also a champion of Born to Read, an early literacy program in which eligible families with new babies receive a free book bag with information on literacy, as well as board books in English or Spanish.

She helped to steer the library through the challenges and changes that stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic. While serving as co-chair of Batavia Counts 2020 amid the U.S. Census, she managed a significant grant support the census efforts. Thanks to the Batavia County 2020 initiative, Batavia’s response rate was 82.9 percent, compared to the regional response rate of 69.8%.

Zillman, who plans to retire on Nov. 10, is the award’s ninth recipient since it was established in 2003. Honorees are recognized the Book of Library Leaders, which is displayed at the entrance to the Library Leaders Reading Room, also known as the Quiet Reading Room.

For more information on Batavia Public Library, visit bataviapubliclibrary.org.