Administrative Team

 Library Directors and Administrative Team

Director

Michael J. Wasilick
mwasilick@wakegov.com
919-250-4532

Michael J. Wasilick is the Director of Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL). Mike began his work in libraries in Adult Services at the Bosler Free Library in Carlisle, Penn., and district consultant librarian for Monessen (Penn.) Public Library.

Wake County Public Libraries hired Mike in 1986 as Adult Services manager at the Northwest Regional Library. During 23 years with Wake County, Mike has held numerous positions, including library manager of the Cary Community Library, and regional library supervisor of the East, North, and Southeast regional libraries.

As supervisor of the North Regional Library, Mike managed the busiest library in North Carolina, and with his staff introduced innovations system-wide, such as the first Internet public-access computers and the first Libraries’ Web page.

Mike wrote the 2002 and 2006 Library Master Plans, which provided the basis for the $35-million and $45-million public bond requests, respectively. Voters approved both requests by large margins. He also developed the library system’s building prototypes and operating models, including the addition of children’s librarians in all libraries.

Mike helped initiate the Libraries’ audio book collection, implement centralized book ordering, establish Staff Development Day, and institute the shared collection concept in Wake County. He was responsible for the community library construction projects at Wake Forest, Green Road and Leesville Road; and the expansion of Duraleigh Road Library. Mike provided oversight for the East and North Regional Library construction projects.

He is a member of the American Library Association, Public Library Association and North Carolina Library Association and has presented workshops for these organizations.

Mike is a native of Pennsylvania. He received bachelor and master’s degrees from Duquesne University and his master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Among Mike’s favorite books are those on Philadelphia sports, such as Occasional Glory (Phillies) or Last Team Standing (Eagles); history, like Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin; fiction by Dan Brown; and from childhood, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Deputy Director of Operations

Ann M. Burlingame
aburlingame@wakegov.com
919-212-7820

Ann Burlingame is the Deputy Director of Wake County Public Libraries. Ann’s first professional position was in 1988 as children’s librarian at the public library in East Brunswick, New Jersey. There, she developed her commitment to children’s services and learned the importance of outstanding quality public service for all library customers.

Ann began her tenure with Wake County Public Libraries in 1990 as the head of Youth Services for the North Regional Library, the busiest library in North Carolina. Six years later, she became library manager at the County’s Wake Forest Public Library. As manager at Wake Forest, Ann oversaw the construction of an expanded, modern facility, and the library significantly increased its book circulation, number of children’s programs and volume of customers.

In 2000, Ann was hired as regional library supervisor for Eastern Wake County, where her responsibilities included overseeing the new East Regional Library in Knightdale, as well as the libraries in Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon. In 2006, she was named assistant director for Library Operations, taking on the duties of preparing and managing the Libraries’ annual operating budget and helping direct library services in eastern and western Wake County.

Ann served as president of the Children’s Service Section of the North Carolina Library Association and on the Youth Advisory Committee for the State Library Commission. She has presented workshops throughout the state on children’s programming, library management, customer service and collection development. She has also taught Children’s Literature in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina. Ann is also a member of the American Library Association and the Public Library Association.

A native of Texas, Ann graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso cum laude and earned a master’s degree in Library Science, specializing in services to children, from the University of North Texas.

Ann favors books whose characters show resilience in difficult situations, such as Joy School by Elizabeth Berg, Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Little House by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Stuart Little by E.B. White, and Goose by Molly Bang.

 

 

Manager of Collection Development Services, Wake County Public Libraries

Betty Utley
bettyutley@wakegov.com
919-250-3972

Betty Utley is manager of Collection Development Services for Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL) and is located in the Library Administration Building on Carya Drive. She has worked with WCPL since 1992 and strongly identifies with the public library focus of access to reading and information for everyone.

Betty leads the staff responsible for selection, ordering, cataloging and distribution of all library materials: more than 180,000 books purchased each year. She manages the materials budget, which is focused on books, periodicals and electronic resources for our library patrons. Betty is involved with several library system committees connecting books and readers. For example, she organized staff advisory groups that consult on popular reading trends and recommending books for purchase.

In her career, Betty helped lead WCPL system to establish a shared collection and a centralized book selection. Betty works as a liaison to organizers of children’s summer reading programs, and to the African American Cultural Interest Committee, promoting books and authors.

Betty began her Wake County career as a reference librarian for the North Regional Library and developed the very first Web presence for the library system. From 1996 to 2003, she was the branch manager at the Green Road Community Library until stepping into her current position.

Betty is from Charlottesville, Va. She received her master’s in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UNC-Wilmington.

Her favorite book is usually whatever she is reading. Her “current, all-time” favorite is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which she describes as “ultimately, a love letter to literature.”

 

Manager of Information Technology, Wake County Public Libraries

Theresa Cummings
theresa.cummings@wakegov.com
919-250-1220

Theresa Cummings is manager of the Information Technology department for Wake County Public Libraries (WCPL). She began her career with Wake County in 2000, where her early duties included overseeing a department that managed approximately 200 computers and administration of the library’s automation system -- the database and software responsible for all daily operations, from book purchases, to the online catalog, to customer requests and checkouts.

Today, Theresa manages six full-time employees, supporting more than 1,000 computers, ongoing administration of the complex library automation system and the WCPL’s popular Web site. She also supervises all technology services to the public, including public computing, public Wi-Fi access and self-service technology for book requests and checkouts.

Theresa continues to participate in several state and national organizations relating to public libraries and information technology. She has presented on topics relating to computers in public libraries, notably the use of Web 2.0 technologies to engage and communicate with public library customers. Theresa is a member of the American Library Association, Public Library Association, and North Carolina Library Association.

Before coming to Wake County, Theresa began her career with Iredell County Public Library in Statesville, N.C., as information technology librarian, serving from 1998 to 2000.

Theresa was raised in La Palma, Calif. She graduated cum laude from Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.) honors program; completed coursework as an exchange student in the School of Information Management at Sheffield University, United Kingdom; and received her master’s in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Theresa loves reading mysteries or anything British, but Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton are her and her boy's recent favorites.

District 1 Supervisor

G. Dale Cousins
gcousins@wakegov.com
919-856-6726

Dale Cousins is the supervisor for District 1, which includes Cameron Village Regional Library, Express Library Fayetteville Street, Olivia Raney Library, Richard B. Harrison Library, and Southgate Library. 

Dale has been with Wake Libraries since 1972, beginning in the children’s department in the old downtown Raleigh main library. Over 34 years, she has worked in various libraries as a page, assistant, information and referral specialist, reference librarian and assistant library manager. She was manager of the Cary Library in the mid 1980s and adult services coordinator for WCPL in the early 1990s.

In 1993, Dale returned to work at the Cameron Village Regional Library. She took a leadership role in the 2005 Cameron Village Library renovation and many other library construction and renovation projects. Dale coordinated the Centennial Celebration for Wake County Libraries, publishing a souvenir library history and establishing the Wake County Public Library Trust Fund. She remains a leading organizer of the annual library book sale. Employees named Dale the 1999 Wake County Employee of the Year.

Dale remains active in the North Carolina Library Association on the Executive Board, numerous committees and as director at large. She is a member of the Public Library Association and American Library Association. She serves as secretary for the Wake County Smart Start Executive Board, Raleigh Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and Literacy Council of Wake County.

A native of Wake County, Dale received her bachelor’s degree at N.C. State University and her master’s in Library Science from N.C. Central University. She received certificates from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. She is a member of the Raleigh Garden Club, JC Raulston Arboretum and Cameron Village Merchants Association.

Dale likes “literary fiction where the words matter.” Top favorites are William Styron's Sophie's Choice , Eudora Welty's Complete Short Stories , Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon , and almost anything by Larry Brown and Anne Tyler.

District 2 Supervisor

Christina Piscitello
christina.piscitello@wakegov.com

Christina Piscitello is the supervisor for District 2, which includes North Regional Library, Duraleigh Road Library, Green Road Library, Leesville Library, and Wake Forest Library.

She began her career in 1998 as an adult reference librarian at Wake County's North Regional Library, one of the busiest libraries in North Carolina. From 2000 to 2005, she was branch manager at the County’s Wake Forest Public Library, “the busiest small community library in Wake County,” Christina likes to say.

Christina takes an active role in developing the library system’s annual budget and is a leader in training co-workers in customer service and facilitative leadership. She serves on the County’s "Caring, Serving, Respecting Customers Award” nomination committee. She is also Wake County staff representative on the Northern Regional Center’s Community Advisory Committee.

Christina grew up in Louisiana. She received her master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin and her bachelor’s degree at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Christina shares her birthday with Jane Austen, the author of one of her favorite books, Pride and Prejudice .

District 3 Supervisor

Gail Harrell
gail.harrell@wakegov.com
919-212-9531


Gail Harrell is supervisor of District 3, which includes Southeast Regional Library, East Regional Library, Fuquay-Varina Library, Wendell Library, and Zebulon Library. 

Gail has spent her entire career with the Wake County library system, and her job responsibilities over the last 30 years have spanned numerous facilities and areas of interest and expertise.

Gail has managed libraries and supervised staff at all career levels. She has been instrumental in developing and administering the Libraries’ materials and facilities budgets for many years. She helped grow the Libraries’ materials collection, seeing it expand to more than 1,714,645 volumes in 2009 and to include audio books. She has worked in seven different Wake County libraries. Gail is a longstanding member of the library system’s administrative team, creating a vision and master plans for Wake County Public Libraries.

Gail has presented workshops at the Popular Literature Conference, the Branch Institute and N.C. Library Association conferences. She was a contributing author to Kenneth Shearer's book, Guiding the Reader to the Next Book, a tool to assist library staff in providing reader advisory services.
A native of Wilson, N.C., Gail earned her master’s in Library Science from N.C. Central University and her bachelor’s degree in English from N.C. State University.

A favorite read of Gail's is The Beetle Bush by Beverly Keller. The story tells about a little girl who feels like a failure until she is able to grow a garden filled with strong weeds, healthy beetles and happy snails.

District 4 Supervisor

Terri Luke
tluke@wakegov.com
919-463-8505

Terri Luke is the supervisor for District 4, which includes Eva Perry Regional Library, West Regional Library, Athens Drive Library, Cary Library, and Holly Springs Library.

Of her 31 years working for libraries, Terri has served the past 22 years with Wake County. Terri has served WCPL as children’s services librarian, adult services manager at North Regional, branch manager of the Cary Library, system-wide coordinator of adult services, and regional library supervisor for both Eva Perry Regional and now the West Regional libraries. She opened two of Wake County’s six regional libraries, taking Eva Perry from a new facility to the top-circulating public library in the state.

Terri brings popular innovations to the WCPL system: she pioneered self checkout stations and self-service holds. She designed and presented the first customer-service workshop for WCPL. In 2007, Terri was nominated for the Garland S. Jones Manager of the Year Award.

Terri is a member of the EBSCO National Public Library Advisory Board, affecting policies for libraries everywhere. She is a member of the American Library Association, Public Library Association and North Carolina Library Association. Terri presents locally and nationally on facilitative leadership, customer service, marketing, and opening-day collections. She organized the National Libraries of the Future Conference, garnering attention for Wake County.

Terri is bringing art into the library, spearheading efforts to secure private funding for purchases. As a result, works by renowned artists Thomas Sayre and Deborah Haeffele grace the West Regional Library.

Terri is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude from Youngstown State University. She was awarded her master’s from the University of North Texas in Denton.
Terri’s favorite book for the last six years is Zingerman's Guide to Giving Great Service, which she says “inspires and trains you to give outstanding customer service.”