Janine Langston Named New Birmingham Public Library Deputy Director

L-R Karyn Davis-West, Central Library Regional Manager; Floyd Council, BPL Executive Director; Janine Langston, new BPL Deputy Director, Damein Baity, BPL Chief Financial Officer; Yolanda Hardy, BPL Regional Manager East/North.

Janine Langston, a 33-year veteran employee of the Birmingham Public Library, has been named as BPL’s new deputy director. She replaces Sandi Lee, who retired as BPL deputy director in December 2018. Langston's promotion was announced during the BPL Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday night, December 10. 

Langston, of Pleasant Grove, has a bachelor’s degree in interior furnishings and equipment from Auburn University (1982) and a Master of Library Science from The University of Alabama (1988). She is active in several professional organizations, including the BPL Staff Association, Jefferson County Library Association, Alabama Library Association, American Library Association, Public Library Association, and Association for Library Services to Children.

Langston began her BPL career at Wylam Branch Library in 1986, where she spent six years as a neighborhood librarian. She was then promoted and spent seven years (1992-1999) as children’s librarian and regional department head at Avondale Regional Branch Library. From 1999 to the present (20 years), Langston has served as BPL’s Literacy, Outreach and Youth Services coordinator, developing and overseeing literacy outreach projects and system-wide youth services.

Prior to being appointed as BPL deputy director, Langston served as BPL western regional manager from 2010 to the present and BPL northern regional manager from 2017 to the present.

Floyd Council, executive director of the Birmingham Public Library, said BPL is thankful for the Board of Trustees and Personnel Committee's report on the selection of Langston as deputy director.

"I am personally so grateful and look forward to working with Mrs. Langston as we lead BPL forward," Council said.

A graduate of the Junior League of Birmingham Leadership Institute, Langston has won several awards and recognition, including the Childcare Resources 2007 Children’s Advocate Award, Jefferson County Library 2008 Shining Star Award for Born to Read @ Your Library, and honorable mention in the 2009 American Library Association Outreach and Diversity Fair.