Vancouver Island Regional Library announces new Executive Director
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) has hired a new Executive Director. Ben Hyman is currently the Chief Librarian at Vancouver Island University, and will assume the role on August 25, 2021 after four years at VIU.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to welcome Ben Hyman as our new Executive Director,” says Gaby Wickstrom, Chair of the VIRL Board of Trustees. “We are excited to be working with him and hearing his ideas as we set the path for VIRL’s future. The relationships Mr. Hyman has formed over his career will be of great benefit to our organization and we are pleased to have him aboard.”
Before assuming his role at the university, Mr. Hyman worked at the Ministry of Education from 2006 until 2011, moving from a management position to Director of Strategic Alignment. He was the founding Executive Director of the BC Libraries Cooperative (2011-2017). During his career, he has delivered responsive public services and infrastructure projects across coastal BC, including many of the rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in VIRL’s service area.
“I see a tremendous opportunity to build on VIRL’s history and successes to develop its full potential as a purpose-driven organization,” Hyman says. “I have a deep respect for the unique character of the region, and I believe that my record of collaboration, innovation, and the successful development of resilient, strategic, citizen-centric services are well suited to VIRL’s future successes as an organization. I am so excited about this opportunity.”
In making their decision, the Board was particularly impressed by Mr. Hyman’s depth and scope of experience and his track record of success in executing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across the public and not-for-profit sectors. Mr. Hyman brings a passion for public service to his role as VIRL’s Executive Director and the Board is confident he will lead the continuing evolution of our library system and staff into exciting areas of public service and engagement
Mr. Hyman takes over as the Executive Director from Rosemary Bonanno, who held the position from 2007 – 2021.