Ruth Metz ?President, Ruth Metz Associates

Ruth Metz is a library consultant, workplace coach, and author and has been a library practitioner and manager for more than 30 years in libraries of all types in Michigan, Colorado, California, and Oregon. Since 1974, she has combined consulting with practical experience.

Beginning in 1982, Metz managed a cooperative of nine independent public libraries and coordinated collaborative activities among 97 academic and special libraries in San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties while working for the Bay Area Library and Information System. While there, she also assisted in the establishment of the African American Museum and Library at Oakland and in the development of several branches.

From 2002 to 2003, Metz served as Interim Director of Libraries for Multnomah County (Portland, Oregon), having served as deputy director from 1997 to 2002. In those roles, Metz' primary work was to develop leaders at every level, build the performance capacity of managers and staff; prepare staff for service in renovated facilities and a digital environment, and work with staff to improve the delivery of public services. She was also responsible for developing library policies and practices pertaining to public access computers, filtering, privacy of patron records, the Children's Internet Protection Act, and the USA Patriot Act.

Metz is author of Coaching in the Library: A Management Strategy for Achieving Excellence, published by the American Library Association in 2001. An active member of the Oregon Library Association and American Library Association, Metz received an MLS degree from the University of Michigan in 1972.