- Your Library
- Connect
- Events & Programs
- Read, Learn & Explore
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Meilleur is the CEO of Calgary Public Library. She is a recognized speaker at international conferences, has authored numerous journal articles, and has lectured at Harvard University on library design. She also led the design thinking, completion and launch of Calgary's award winning new Central Library, which has seen over four million visitors since opening in November 2018. Sarah believes in supporting the community through volunteering and has served as the vice-chair for the Calgary Heritage Authority, on the Cultural Leadership Council and the Social Wellbeing Advisory Committee. She received Avenue Magazine's Top 40 under 40 award in 2011 and was a recipient of Queen Elizabeth ll's Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for outstanding service to family, community, and country. Sarah is passionate about how public libraries transform lives, and she works to foster curiosity, innovation, belonging, and fantastic visitor experiences.
Director, Service Design & Innovation
Heather completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Calgary and her Masters in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. With experience in both academic and public library environments, she has been with the Calgary Public Library since 2005, working in various leadership roles including Manager of Diversity Services, Manager of Community Services, and as the Functional Program Lead for the new Central Library project. In her current role, she oversees the Service Design department.
Director, Visitor Experience
Melissa completed her undergraduate degree at York University and her Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) at Western University. After graduating from Western, she spent one year teaching English in Ulsan, South Korea.
Melissa has experience in both academic and public libraries. Over the past 14 years Melissa has worked in six public library systems across Canada, including Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. Melissa has done nearly every job in public libraries — from shelver to CEO.
Throughout her career she has held multiple leadership roles, has actively worked on committees advocating for public libraries, and has engaged in association work and training, including LEAN and Service Design.
Director, Communications & Engagement
Mary is an alumna from the University of Toronto and a graduate of the Rozsa Arts Management Program at the Haskayne School of Business. After beginning her career in publishing, Mary was Marketing Manager at Wordfest before joining the National Music Centre in 2013. While there she led major marketing and communications projects that included crisis communications around the 2013 floods, a capital fundraising campaign, national and international media campaigns, content marketing strategies, and the opening of the National Music Centre’s new 160,000 square foot facility in July 2016. She has worked in marketing and communications within the cultural sector for over ten years. In her current role, Mary oversees the Media Production and Marketing & Communications departments.
Director, Strategy & Planning
Paul earned an Economics degree from The University of Western Ontario and a MBA degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. Before joining the Calgary Public Library, he gained library and municipal experience at The City of Mississauga. He currently oversees Analytics & Project Support, Financial Services, Facilities Planning & Operations, and Human Resources.
Director, Information and Technology
Manjula Nanjappa is an innovative and strategic leader with 23 years of digital transformation experience. She has worked in a variety of roles over her career, gaining expertise in product development, analytics, business intelligence, cyber-security, and technology solutions management, leading complex strategic initiatives with clients across the globe. She has worked in numerous industries, including telecom, transportation, utility, oil and gas, health, and manufacturing, with a career spanning government, public, and private sector involvement that includes many prominent multinationals during her career. She is an engineering graduate in Computer Science from the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), India. She dreams of taking the Calgary Public Library on a path of cutting edge and evolving technologies that contributes to a secure and exceptional visitor experience.
She has also served as a board member on several prominent provincial committees that allowed her to create opportunities and increase participation of underrepresented and visible minorities. Charitable and philanthropic activities have always been an important thread throughout her life, and she continues to find ways to help and contribute to communities.
Staff members consider the following key areas: civic and digital literacy, early literacy, and services for Indigenous communities, newcomers, children, teens, and readers.
Service Design Leads
Marshall Sumka, Collections
Anne Marie Fryer, Digital Resources
Kari Brawn, Collection Development
Patrick Ulrich, Planning and Operations
Steve Donnelly, Operations
Chae Jun, Controller
Katrina Ducs, Purchasing
Jillian Palbom, Human Resources
Lina Al Dana, Information Technology Operations
Carlo Rivas Castagnino, Information Technology Infrastructure
Anton Chuppin, Information Technology Interfaces
Ian Schuyt, Information Technology Data & Planning
Connie Smith, Volunteer Resources & Program Support Lead
Steven Dohlman, Events & Program Partnerships Lead