New York Public Library Appoints Iris Weinshall Chief Operating Officer

JULY 10, 2014: The New York Public Library has named Iris Weinshall its Chief Operating Officer.

Weinshall, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation and most recently vice chancellor of Facilities Planning, Management, and Construction for the City University of New York, will begin her tenure on Sept. 1.

“Iris is a proven leader whose distinguished and successful career in public service will help us make the Library even stronger,” said NYPL President Tony Marx.    

The Library’s Chief Operating Officer – a key member of the Library’s senior management team – has oversight over the operational departments of the institution, including Finance and Investment, Human Resources, Capital Planning and Construction, Facilities Operations, BookOps and Government Relations. This includes the Library’s expense and capital budgets, its $1 billion endowment, and all construction projects across the system’s three boroughs.

“I am incredibly excited to join the team at The New York Public Library,” said Weinshall. “I have always respected and valued the mission of the NYPL and all it does for the people of the City of New York and beyond. I am looking forward to making an impact and to help steer this important institution.”

Weinshall has been in her current position at CUNY since 2007, responsible for overseeing the University’s multi-year capital construction program across 24 campuses in the five boroughs.

She served as Commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation from 2000 to 2007, and was responsible for all daily operations, including the agency’s expense and capital budgets, both totaling well over $100 million.

In her career in public service, Weinshall also served as First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and Deputy Commissioner of Management and Budget for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

She graduated Cum Laude from Brooklyn College and has a Master’s Degree in public administration from New York University.

Contact:

Angela Montefinise | 212.592.7506 | angelamontefinise@nypl.org

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.