
The SC&I Alumni Association (SCIAA) has named Andrew Medlar MLS'96, the president and executive director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award for 2025-2026. Medlar will be honored during the annual Distinguished Alumni Dinner at The Rutgers Club on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The award recognizes renowned contributors to the fields of communication, journalism, information technology and informatics and library studies. Since 1979, SCIAA has recognized 42 honorees with this annual award.
"What a thrill! Never in a million years would I have dreamed to even imagine this was a possibility," Medlar said. "I think it’s easy to miss the big picture of one’s work when you’re in the midst of getting on with it day to day. And, as Lucy Grealy wrote in her stunning memoir "Autobiography of a Face," 'Part of the job of being human is to consistently underestimate our effect on other people.' So this generous recognition means a lot to me because it’s stunning and humbling to suddenly look up and hear an institution one really loves and respects say, 'We see you and the impact you’ve had. Well done and keep it up!'"
Medlar, who received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University prior to earning his MLS from SC&I, began his career as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn, NY, in 1996. In 1997, he joined the Chicago Public Library as a librarian, rising to the role of Assistant Chief, Technology, Content and Innovation. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the director of BookOps for the New York Public Library.
SCIAA President Marty Siederer LC '76, said, "Andrew Medlar is a most-deserved honoree. He has demonstrated excellence, service, influence, and innovation in the library and information field throughout his career and cites his education from Rutgers as a springboard to his career. Andrew's work has impacted how people access information, read, learn, and engage with libraries in all of the communities he's served and beyond."
SC&I Interim Dean Mark Aakhus said, "Alumni are so important to our SC&I community. They exemplify the difference SC&I makes for them in their big, prominent achievements and in the less visible, seemingly small actions alums take to lift each other up for the success of their fellow alums those around them. This is especially significant to our students and new graduates. Andrew is an exemplary alum on these fronts in many ways. We are really proud that Andrew is part of our SC&I community and thrilled with his recognition as a distinguished alumni.”
In our Q&A with Medlar, he describes the impact of his leadership on Pittsburgh’s public library system, why he chose to earn his MLS from SC&I, the ways his SC&I education is continuing to positively impact his career (he still emails Professor Emeritus Dan O'Connor when he has a question about library statistics), advice for aspiring librarians, and more.
As the president and executive director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, have you aimed to improve the field of public librarianship? If so, what are the changes you've introduced and how have the changes you've made impacted the field?
AM: I was pretty far into my libraryland journey before I learned the wise phrase from Pirkei Avot, the Jewish text on ethical teachings, which says “It is not up to you to finish the task, but you are not free to avoid it.” This resonates with me as I feel a responsibility to leave every day better than the one before, and so hopefully by the time I retire I will have made a net positive impact on the work of public libraries. Put another way: to have moved the needle.
The impact I see most needed now is standing firm while moving forward. For example, we must defend every person’s right to choose what they and members of their own family read, while broadening the options of content and format they have from which to choose. This is a foundation of public library work which we stand upon AND (which is my favorite word!) we also must evolve or die.
It is our understanding that you have transformed accessibility and efficiency in Pittsburgh’s public library system with methods you learned in Chicago and NYC. What are these methods, where did you learn them, and how have you applied them to improve the lives of library patrons?
AM: Here’s a relatively straightforward answer: Increase service hours. However, this is a world where nothing is straightforward, so learning to be successful in Chicago and then New York has been an invaluable experience to bring to anywhere else (as Frank Sinatra sang about). And while it’s absolutely vital to be responsive to each unique place, there are indeed commonalities to inform the work, including that of having the physical doors open longer. That’s money, obviously. And the support of trustees, elected officials, and community influencers. The resources staff need being responsive to both any collective bargaining agreements and their individual wellness. Not to mention communicating so people know about it.
The first major component we implemented together in Pittsburgh as part of the new Strategic Plan we collaboratively developed was the largest increase in public service hours for at least as there are records. Doing so took combining the experience of all those components and putting them into the local context, while always keeping our eye on the reason why: to improve access to the what the library provides that improves the lives of our neighbors.
And it’s worth it! In the first year of expanded hours there were more than a quarter of a million more visits to public libraries in Pittsburgh than the year before. (Particularly impressive in a city with a population of only a third that of Middlesex County!) Pittsburgh kids now read 425% more books during the summer than they did before. And staff satisfaction is over 90%.
Why did you choose to study at SC&I/Rutgers?
AM: I was looking for a top-ranked opportunity in a dynamic and exciting part of the world, with a program of study that was both broad and deep. I wanted to explore different parts of library work while at the same time digging deep into those I discovered interested me most. When I arrived for a campus visit—30 years to the month of learning about this amazing recognition—I was so impressed to be greeted by the president of the American Library Association, Dr. Betty Turock, who had just been on the cover of Library Journal and whose presidential initiative was “Equity on the Information Superhighway” (a wacky little term we used to refer to the Internet). That said to me that this is a place that leads our profession and does it in the service of something I care a lot about.
How did studying at SC&I/Rutgers prepare you for this role? Did any classes and/or instructors have a profound and lasting impact on you, and if so, why?
AM: Through the example, wisdom, and generosity of instructors (all the names of which make me say 'Awwww! They were great!' when I hear them): Nick Belkin, Henk Edelman, Carol Kuhlthau, Pat Reeling, Tefko Saracevic, Susan Swartzburg, Kay Vandergrift, Jana Varlejs, and Shelly Warwick, the latter of whose syllabus I just found says the course I took with her was 'no less than "An overview of the world of organized knowledge."' Now that’s profound!
Do you still apply what you learned at SC&I to your professional work?
AM: The first thing I think of is the importance of data and statistics that I learned from Dan O’Connor’s class. I have no clue what grade I got in his class, and even less interest in finding out, yet what I do know for sure is that in the decades since I graduated, when I’ve had an imponderable (to me) question about library statistics I’ve emailed him, and he’s helped me. Thank you, sir!
What is some advice you received at SC&I, Rutgers, or elsewhere that has served you well and/or advice you'd like to share with current or prospective SC&I students about how to succeed at Rutgers and professionally?
AM: Make and nurture connections, both online and in person. Today I find that when I walk into pretty much any room in a library, conference center, or Zoom I know at least someone, frequently someone from Rutgers. That’s a great thing because it enables you to do your job better in that there’s always someone to reach out to for help and someone with knowledge and wisdom you can bring back and apply to your organization. Also, it brings satisfaction and delight to one’s career by bringing satisfying personal relationships with delightful people. That can certainly happen virtually and it’s important to get on a plane or train sometimes, too.
Learn more about the Master of Information degree program at the School of Communication and Information on the website.
Photos: Top: Andrew Medlar, courtesy of Andrew Medlar. Middle: R to L: Mark Aakhus, Andrew Medlar, Blain Bradley, Marty Siederer. Credit: Karley Emery