Daniel Perez

Librarian III

I was born in south Florida and raised in Southeastern Louisiana. I currently work as a public librarian for the Jefferson Parish Public Library System (JPL). I earned my Bachelors of Arts from the University of New Orleans, in 2013, while majoring in Philosophy. I then completed my Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Louisiana State University in 2019. I plan to complete my second Masters in Administration from Union College of Barbourville, KY in August of 2022. Prior to working in the public sector, I worked for over 10 years in the service industry. I share a daughter with my wife, who I have been with since high school. My ultimate goal is to become an administrator for JPL, and to affect positive change in my organization and community. I want to be able to help my fellow colleagues and peers achieve their personal and career goals. Public service is very important to me, and I am constantly seeking ways to improve and expand my skills as a leader.

I first started working for the parish as an associate, for the Belle Terre Library in Marrero. I was transferred, after a year, to the circulation department at the East Bank Regional Library (EBR) in Metairie. During my time at EBR I oversaw the Adult Spanish book collection. I was then promoted to Librarian II, the entry-level professional librarian position, once I completed my MLIS from LSU. I worked as the interim manager at the Live Oak Library in Waggaman, before moving to my main branch at the Edith S. Lawson Library in Westwego. During this time, I gained experience in crisis management, as we had to adjust our workflow and policies due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. I was transferred back to EBR’s circulation department due to planned renovations for the Westwego library. During my time back at EBR, I worked as a substitute manager in the circulation department due to open vacancies and staff shortages. I assisted in the opening and closing of the branch, as well as assisting staff with patron concerns. I was then promoted to Librarian III, or cluster manager position, for the North Kenner Library. I am also responsible for managing the Librarian II at the Wagner branch. I am currently supervising 8 employees and involved with JPL’s new outreach committee. The purpose of this committee is to brainstorm and discuss new ways that we can reach out to the public through programming and events.

As the son of Cuban immigrants, I am very indebted to public institutions such as the library. My mother used the resources at the library to improve on her English. During my undergraduate years, I used the internet and computer access at my local library to complete my degree. These are just a couple of the reasons why I decided to become a professional librarian. I wanted to give back to the institution that helped my family and myself succeed along the way.