Announcing Our New Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that we have hired Amy Drake as our new Executive Director.

Amy Drake has nearly nine years of experience in supporting cultural institutions, including grant writing, developing collaborative relationships, expanding audience reach, and executing public events. Drake believes, “Libraries are vital to creating healthy and vibrant communities of all sizes – from the knowledge and materials they steward to the experiences they create.”

Previously, Drake worked as the Director of Exhibitions and Community Engagement for the Southern Oregon Historical Society in Medford. While there, she curated exhibitions that highlighted an underrepresented aspect of local history, including 2016’s Courage in the Golden Valley: Southern Oregon Chinese History. Through Drake’s leadership of the History: Made by You program, SOHS received the Oregon Heritage Excellence Award in 2013. Drake also provided outreach to volunteer-run historical societies, including teaching classes, running workshops, and awarding scholarships.

Drake serves on the boards of the Oregon Museums Association and the Jackson County Cultural Coalition. She holds her MA in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and her BA in History from Grinnell College. She has lived in Ashland since 2011.

The JCLF Board is looking forward to working with Drake, stating that they are “pleased to have Amy on board and leading us in support of all our libraries in Jackson County.”