Janine Langston Named Interim Director of the Birmingham Public Library

Janine Langston

Janine Langston, a 34-year veteran employee of the Birmingham Public Library, has been named as BPL’s new interim executive director. Langston replaced Floyd Council, who resigned after three years as executive director effective Tuesday, December 15. The announcement was made following an emergency meeting of the BPL Board of Trustees held today, Wednesday, December 16, 2020. 

A native of Pleasant Grove, Langston has a bachelor’s degree in interior furnishings and equipment from Auburn University (1982) and a Masters in Library Information Studies from the University of Alabama.

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 Associationfor 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 2019, Langston 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 on December 10, 2019, Langston served as BPL western regional manager from 2010 to 2019 and BPL northern regional manager from 2017 to 2019.

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.

About the Birmingham Public Library (BPL)

For additional information about the programs and services of the Birmingham Public Library, visit our website at www.cobpl.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BPL. The mission of Birmingham Public Library is to provide the highest quality library service to our citizens for life-long learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. With 18 locations, BPL is one of the largest library systems in the Southeast.