Tonya Garcia

Tonya Garcia, Rutgers alumna is the Long Branch Public Library Director and elected 2019 New Jersey Library Association President with over 18 years progressively responsible experience in library administration. Her theme as NJLA President was “Know Your Why” which authentically reflects her leadership style. As a teenage mother who left high school at a very early age, Tonya worked hard to overcome the imposter syndrome and has went on to lead library innovation and development which help redefine the roles of libraries. She is responsible for designing services such as the 2020 Back to Business Pandemic Recovery program as well as nationally recognized initiatives such as the 2015 Community Connects Social Work Initiative, 2008 Back to Work Program, 2009 Fresh-Start Reentry Services and the 2005 Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.  Many of these initiatives were adopted by the New Jersey State Library and expanded state-wide. Ms. Garcia is the only librarian to serve on the American Psychological Association's Pathways to Equity: Addressing Racial Disparities Experienced by Boys and Men of Color task force in Washington Dc, under President Obama’s Administration. Additionally, her work has been cited in numerous books, professional journals and research papers. Her career has been nationally recognized with such honors as 2017 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, 2017 New Jersey Library Association Librarian of the Year, 2020 New Jersey State Library Innovation Award and the recent 2021 Vin Gopal Community Trailblazer award. She identifies social justice and service-based leadership as her North Star."