Donna Miller Accepts Library Director Position in Newington

After 26 years at the , Assistant Library Director Donna Miller is leaving to become director of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library in Newington.

"It's a nice job for her, and we're sorry to lose her, but happy for her," Mary LaBelle Suter, chair of the Avon Free Public Library Board of Directors, said after the library's presentation at the Town Council budget workshop on Feb. 12.

Miller has waited to officially release her news to the public until now because she was waiting for Newington to announce that she would be the new library director. She is going to start on April 4, according to minutes at the Feb. 22 Newington Town Council meeting. Her last day in Avon will be April 1, according to Vocelli.

Eric Rothauser, president of the Newington library board, introduced Miller as the new library director at the meeting.

According to the minutes, Miller said she was pleased to meet members of the Newington community and that Newington's public library has a "fantastic reputation."

She has more than 30 years of experience working in libraries and has gotten positive response about joining the staff at the Newington library, and she told the Newington Town Council that "people have spoken so highly about the great book sale, the friendly and helpful staff and the best up to date computers" at the Newington library.

Miller has been instrumental in the library's presence online. She started a blog on the library Web site that provides updates about construction on the library and includes photos.

Now she is ready to transition the staff to take on her tasks when she is gone.

"Donna's anxious to pass on her duties," Virginia Vocelli, Avon's library director, said at the budget workshop on Feb. 12.

Town Council Chairman Mark Zacchio (R) asked Vocelli at the budget workshop if she intended on filling Miller's position, and she indicated that library staff did not know at that time.