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Andrew Breidenbaugh takes over Tampa-Hillsborough library system

 
Published Feb. 6, 2015

TAMPA — Nearly 18 years after starting in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system, Andrew S. Breidenbaugh takes over as director of the system on Monday.

Breidenbaugh, 49, succeeds 30-year library veteran Joe Stines, who is retiring after leading the library system since 1991.

As director, Breidenbaugh will oversee a $36.5 million annual operating budget, 25 libraries and two mobile outlets. Last year, the system circulated more than 10 million items and had 8 million patron visits. His salary will be $128,000 a year.

Breidenbaugh earned a bachelor's degree in history and Asian studies from Towson University in Maryland, a master's degree in Middle Eastern history from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in library science from the University of South Florida, where he was an adjunct librarian on the Tampa campus.

In the Hillsborough library system, he has coordinated reference and information services, served as chief librarian for southern Hillsborough, South Tampa and the John F. Germany Public Library, and managed library technology and collections. Along the way, officials said Friday, he was instrumental in bringing online databases, eBooks and downloadable and streaming movies, music and media to patrons.

Outside the library, Breidenbaugh has taught as an adjunct faculty member in library and information science at USF and volunteers with First Robotics, serving as a judge for First Tech Challenge events in the Tampa Bay area.