Pang Yang has been named director of the Ramsey County Library after serving as deputy director since 2021. In her new role, Pang will provide the overall vision, long-range strategic planning, leadership and direction for seven library locations and more than 100 employees.
Pang has over 20 years of library experience including working at the city of Saint Paul Library for 17 years where she most recently served as a library manager. When she joined the county during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pang immediately jumped in to work tirelessly with staff to ensure community had access to much-needed resources and programs while also ensuring staff maintained a safe and healthy working environment.
In 2022, when the previous library director moved on, Pang readily stepped up and took on additional leadership roles within the department including serving as the liaison to the Ramsey County Library Board, the Ramsey County Library Friends nonprofit group as well as managing department performance measures and budget presentations. She also guided the library in Maplewood through a temporary relocation to the Maplewood Service Center in the Maplewood Mall while the library space was renovated, opens a new window for much of 2023, and then later, a grand reopening.
Pang is a fierce advocate to advancing racial equity and removing barriers for patrons. During COVID, late fees were suspended temporarily for adult materials. She saw this as an opportunity to work with other county leaders and the County Board of Commissioners to create a policy to remove adult late fees permanently, opens a new window just as they had for youth materials and to be in alignment with the county’s Racial Equity strategic priority.
“We are thrilled that Pang Yang has accepted the position of library director,” said Deputy County Manager Kari Collins. “Her talent, dedication to our mission and innovative leadership make her an invaluable asset to our team. With her vision and strategic approach, we know our connections with partners and community will only grow and strengthen the library making it an even more inclusive and welcoming place for all.”
“I am so humbled and excited to continue to work alongside the fantastic Ramsey County team,” said Pang Yang. “Every day we have the opportunity to connect people to their interests, engage in their community and support them living as their full selves. I am eager to continue and build upon this amazing work.”
Deeply driven by community service, in her free time Pang volunteers as a board member with the MORE School, serves on the Capital Improvement Budget Committee for the city of Saint Paul and is a volunteer tax preparer for Prepare and Prosper.
