The city of Southfield has appointed Mary Beall as the Acting City Librarian with the retirement of Dave Ewick effective March 26, 2021.

The Southfield Public Library Board unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Beall with the City Council’s approval on March 10. Ms. Beall previously served as the Assistant City Librarian at Southfield Public Library since 2009, and has been a part of the Library team for over 20 years.

“We are very pleased that Ms. Beall has accepted this leadership role in an interim capacity while the Library Board conducts a national search for a permanent replacement for Mr. Ewick,” commented Mayor Dr. Ken Siver. “We wish her much success in this important position as we wish Dave all the best on his well-deserved retirement.”

Ms. Beall received her M.S. in Library Science from Wayne State University, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. Mary started her career in Detroit in Marketing and Public Relations for Omnigraphics, a library reference book publisher, and later worked in the research libraries for Nissan Research & Development and the UAW.

Ms. Beall was Visiting Assistant Librarian and Instructor at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and Adjunct Faculty for Dominican University. While in Chicago, she also created the on-site full-service library for the international press at the Democratic National Convention, and created the first web-based information clearinghouse for issues related to women and girls for the state of Illinois. 

She is Past President of the Wayne State Library and Information Science Alumni Association, Past President of the Michigan Chapter of the Special Libraries Association, and a longtime Director on the board of the Friends of Michigan Libraries. Mary is the recipient of the President's Award for Notable Achievement and the Public Relations Member Achievement Award from the Special Libraries Association, as well the co-author of Special Libraries: A Guide for Management. 

About Southfield Public Library

The Southfield Public Library serves the community by providing unparalleled services, resources, programs and numerous public meeting spaces. The Southfield Public Library is a state-of-the-art facility that traditionally receives more than 2,300 visitors daily (pre-COVID). The Library’s many amenities include two computer labs; a sophisticated computer network with hundreds of data drops and Wi-Fi access; numerous meeting rooms; two auditoriums; 16 group study rooms; three outdoor terraces; fireplaces on each level; and stunning architectural and interior design. The Southfield Public Library also offers several computer classes monthly, ranging from Computer Fundamentals to Microsoft Office software training for people at all levels of computer literacy. Additionally, the Library recently completed the renovation of the youth room, added new early literacy computer stations, and expanded shelving in the picture book collection and young adult areas.

Southfield Public Library Current COVID-19 Operations

Patrons can access e-books and magazines, audiobooks, movies, music, children’s resources, and research tools and more 24/7 with their library card at www.southfieldlibrary.org. Contactless service will also continue at the drive-up window to pick up library materials Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. as well as Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.southfieldlibrary.org or call the Southfield Public Library at (248) 796-4200.