The kid who shucked college for a year to work at Walt Disney World brings to Arlington customer skills he learned in Florida and a yen for “Star Wars.”

Peter J. Struzziero, 31, began working as the town’s library director on Monday, Dec. 22, and was introduced to selectmen that night.

“Tell me about ‘Star Wars’,” Selectman Dan Dunn asked the bearded director whose thick-rim glasses impart a studious air.

He smiled, and his youthful enthusiasm bloomed.

When he began working in libraries, he explained, he did not make much money. At the Nevins Memorial Library in Methuen, he started a “Star Wars” club. Based on the otherworldly, good-vs.-evil film series that began in 1977, the club aimed to promote reading among young people.

Its popularity led another librarian to ask whether Struzziero could do the same for his community. “If you pay me,” he said.

That led to another library club.

Since 2010, he has been the host of the “Stars Wars Symposium” — a workshop he created with a school teacher that encourages teens to dress up in their favorite “Star Wars” costumes to play educational games about the series at library branches statewide. Teens learn about the science behind “Star Wars” and discuss characters from the films. Prizes are awarded to those wearing the best costumes.

Struzziero, who prefers to dress up for the workshops as Obi-Wan Kenobi, told selectmen he went to 175 libraries in Massachusetts over five years. He said his presentations have been seen by 7,000 children.

Another plus: His “Star Wars” gig sent him around the state, and he saw how other libraries worked, preparation for his current position.

Robbins’ memories go back

He may have been preparing all his life.

Working in libraries for about a decade, he said he was “always focused on Robbins,” because he recalled it as a youngster living in Arlington when his grandmother brought him there. Among his town memories: Chasing Paul Revere on Patriots Day, rollerblading on bricks in the Heights and sled-riding at Robbins Farm

Overall, he called the Arlington position a “great opportunity,” for which he is thankful.

In looking at Struzziero’s resume, Selectmen Joe Curro called the director a “real millennial guy” and said he was most excited about his work in leadership.

A graduate of the New England Library Leadership Symposium in North Andover, he was a presenter at the Massachusetts Library Association 2012 Conference. His topic: “New England Library Leadership Symposium: The Future of Library Leadership.”

Curro also said he reacted to resume in mock horror, noting Struzziero had been a cast member at Disney World. Ryan Livergood, the former library director who left in November, also had a sense of play and had got Curro involved in a fun challenge that resulted in Livergood’s dressing as Clifford the Big Red Dog.

“I have a fear about what you may have up your sleeve,” Curro said, smiling.

On a serious note, Curro said Struzziero’s involvement in a cultural effort in Winthrop positions him as valuable here, as Arlington seeks to establish a cultural district.

“We’ll be calling on you,” Curro said.

Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine told selectmen he was sad when he knew Livergood was leaving, citing his passion for libraries. As finalists were interviewed, Chapdelaine said, it “became clear that [Struzziero] had equal, if not greater passion, for libraries.” He also referred to his “notoriety in library community” statewide.

Struzzierro is the second manager Arlington has hired this fall from Winthrop. In October, Paul Tierney began work as the town’s chief of assessments.

The library director’s annual salary is $97,593, Caryn Molloy, head of personnel, wrote Dec. 23.

Reception Jan. 27

A reception for library director is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Robbins Library Reading Room.

All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Oct. 2, 2014: Town library system losing director who did not go by the book

Aug. 15, 2013: Clifford the Dog makes Livergood a Somerville wag

Resume

EDUCATION

New England Library Leadership Symposium Graduate, North Andover, Ma
Master of Library and Information Science, Simmons College, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Arts, Communications, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA

EXPERIENCE

Winthrop Public Library & Museum, Winthrop, MA (July 2013 – Present)

The public library and museum for the town of Winthrop, Massachusetts. A member if the North of Boston Library Exchange Library Director

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Winthrop Public Library & Museum.
• Supervise a staff of twenty Full and Part Time staff, Library Aids, Volunteers and Library Friends.
• Work closely with Board of Trustees to develop new Library Policies and Procedures.
• Responsible for scheduling, payroll, and submission of warrants for bill paying.
• Meet regularly with Town Manager, Department Heads, Town Council and Library Trustees.
• Sole Library liaison to Winthrop Public Schools, Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, Robert DeLeo
Senior Center, Winthrop Cable Access Television, E.B. Newton Cultural Center, and many others.
• Prepared, defended and maintained a budget of $480,000 and a collection of over 100,000 items.
• Created a new Library Website with mobile companion, also launching seven social media accounts engaging over 1000 citizens regularly.
• Founded Friends of The Library 501-C3 group and first Book Sales in over ten years.
• Successfully completed Library Staff Union negotiations with The Town of Winthrop.
• FY14 increases: Overdrive audiobooks grew 350%, Overdrive Ebooks grew 40%, DVD circulation grew 20%, non-resident circulation grew 26%, program participants grew 23%. Reference Transactions grew 49%.
• Wrote long range Capital Improvement Plan extending to FY19.
• Appointed as Co-Chair of the Winthrop Cultural District Committee by Town Manager.
• Brought new programs to the Library yielding the highest program numbers in over eight years.
• Completed annually the ARTS and State Aid Reports, and the Fiscal Year Budget Plan which earned an increase to the FY15 budget for the first time in several years.
• Oversaw the spending of reserve Library funds to complete major renovation of library basement, roof repairs, boiler repair, heating repair and oil to gas heat system conversion.
• Secured over $30,000 in Capital Improvement budget funds from the Town, to install handicap doors, a basement renovation project and a new fire detection system with new smoke detectors.
• Built the first ever Young Adult Department, created the collection, allocated area to the patrons, created a Teen Advisory Board and several new collections for Young Adults.
• Wrote job descriptions for and hired new Assistant Director and Head of Reference.
• Stayed active in communicative outreach through Winthrop Cable Television appearances and a weekly newspaper column in the Winthrop Sun Transcript. Wrote monthly Library Newsletter.
• Represented the Library with over a dozen speaking engagements at numerous community events.
• Presented at 2014 Massachusetts, New England, and American Library Association Conferences.

Scituate Town Library, Scituate, MA (Aug. 2011 – July 2013)

The public library for the town of Scituate, Mass. A member of the Old Colony Library Network.

Reference Librarian / Head of Teen Services

• Oversaw budget, undertook collection development, planned community outreach and programming, provided reference and readers advisory, coordinated teen volunteering, administered and maintained website and social networking for the Young Adult Department.
• Acted as building supervisor and staff manager on nights and weekends.
• Staffed a public reference desk during all hours outside of programming, providing readers’ advisory and research assistance to patrons of all ages.
• Planned and implemented weekly programs for children and adults.
• Assessed YA Department space needs, tripling allocated area and increasing daily attendance.
• Developed and added new media collections (DVD, games, and graphic novels) and a teen favorite display, increasing circulation by 18% in 2012.
• Supervised Library Assistants and Teen Volunteers running programs for children.
• Maintained communication with all area media outlets, including radio, television, and newspaper.
• Instituted and managed the Annual Scituate Volunteer Expo and teen volunteer program.
• Acted as sole liaison to Scituate High School and Gates Middle School, visiting classes and teaching sessions to students on research and database navigation.
• Represented the library at significant community events.
• Served as founding member of the Scituate Town Library Technology Advisory Board and Scituate Town Library Social Media Committee.

Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen, MA (November 2009 – August 2011)

The public library for the town of Methuen, Mass. A member of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.

Young Adult Librarian / Readers’ Services Librarian

• Coordinated and oversaw all young adult programming, executed all planning, advertising, and leading of events, including solicitation of sponsors, communication with school administration, marketing services, and any outside involvement including presenters, speakers or guests.
• Performed all young adult collection development, selecting and ordering all media, including books, films, graphic novels, magazines, and video games.
• Staffed the readers’ services desk and handled all circulation tasks alongside circulation staff.
• Served as substitute librarian for children’s and reference departments.
• Served as member of the library newsletter staff.
• Developed and presented library administration with an extensive plan to reinvent and relocate the Young Adult Department and requested and received approval for implementation from the Board of Trustees.

Methuen Public School System, Methuen, Mass. (November 2009 – August 2011)

Community Librarian

• Served as sole embedded librarian for the Methuen Public School System (high school, middle schools and elementary schools), implementing a partnership between the school system and the Nevins Memorial Library.
• Oversaw circulation and reference responsibilities in each of five school libraries.
• Assisted staff librarians in extra-curricular tasks, such as back-to-school night, parent/teacher night, summer reading book talks, etc.
• Chaperoned the Books & Bagels monthly book discussion group at Methuen High School

ADDITIONAL POSITIONS

Winthrop Sun Transcript, Staff Writer, 2013- Present
Star Wars Symposium, Independent Program Presenter (over 135 Public Libraries), 2010-Present
The Big Brown Chair.com, Founder & Publisher, 2010-2014
Scituate Mariner, Stall Writer, 2012 – 2014
Memorial Hall Library, Library Assistant, July 2010 – July 2011
Prestonwood Associates Inc., Medfield, Mass., Research Associate, April 2008 – February 2009
O’Leary Public Library, Lowell, Mass., Library Assistant, September 2006 – June 2007

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Chair, Mass. Library System CE & Advisory Services Committee, 2014 – 2016
Chair, Winthrop Cultural District Committee, 2013 – Present
Chair, South Shore Young Adult Committee, 2013 Term
Member, Old Colony Library Network ILS Task Force, 2011 – 2013
Chair, MVLC Young Adult Committee, 2012 Term
Judge, Massachusetts Center for the Book – 2012 Book Awards Board Member, Scituate Cable, 2012
Member, Massachusetts Library Association Conference Committee Member at Large, 2011 – Present

Member, Television Advisory Board Member, MVLC Collection Development Committee, Term, 2012 – 2013
Member, Massachusetts Library System Youth Services Section. 2011 – 2013
Member, Massachusetts Library Association, 2010 – Present
Member, Special Library Association, 2009 – Present
Member, American Library Association, 2009 – Present

PUBLICATIONS

“The Answer Is Yes,” Public Libraries Magazine, Sept.-Oct. 2014 Issue

“Use the Force: A Star Wars Symposium,” Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2012 Issue “Use the Force: How One Mass. Librarian is Using Star Wars to Get Teens Engaged,” District Dispatch: News for Fiends of Libraries – From the ALA Washington Office 2012-2014

Weekly Column in Winthrop Sun Transcript, “The Big Brown Chair,” 2013-Present

Weekly Column in Scituate Mariner, “The Big Brown Chair,” 2012 – 2014

PRESENTATIONS

Guest Lecturer at Salem State College, 1st Year Seminar “The Spy Who Loved Me,” Fall 2014

Presenter, American Library Association 2014 Conference” Stand Up and Shout! The Millennial Leader on Changing Direction”

Presenter, New England Library Association 2014 Conference, “Stand Up and Shout! The Millennial Leader on Changing Direction”

Presenter, Massachusetts Library Association 2014 Conference, “Teen Con South,” and “The Library as Cultural Center”

Presenter, Massachusetts Library Association 2013 Conference” Tech 101: Teaching Tech to Staff and Patrons” & “They Don’t Outgrow it: Lifespan Services to Patrons on the Autism Spectrum”

Presenter, Massachusetts Library Association 2012 Conference. “New England Library Leadership Symposium: The Future of Library Leadership”

Presenter, New England Library Association 2012 Conference, “New England Library Leadership Symposium: The Future of Library Leadership”

HONORS

Winthrop Town Manager Holiday Award (Light Bulb), 2013
Memorial Hall Library – Staff Appreciation Award, 2011

INTERNSHIPS

Essex Partners, Research Intern, 2008
Tewksbury Public Library, Library Intern, 2005
Walt Disney World, Cast member and College Program Intern, 2002

TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL NETWORKING SKILLS

Academic Onefile, Ebscohost, Eric Firstsearch, Eventkeeper, Facebook, Flickr, Gale Cenage, Horizon, Librarylnsight, Millennium, NoveList, Pinterest, Reader’s Advisor Online, Skype, Softrite, Twitter, Tumblr, WordPress, Workflows, WorldCat and many others.

This story was published Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014.