About Heather Dray

As CCO, Heather is dedicated to realizing Library Lever’s mission of building sustainable library collections through best-in-class programs and solutions designed to ensure success for libraries of all sizes and complexities.

Mesmerized by the magic of books as a child, teenage Heather realized her true calling while working the Business Periodicals desk at the main branch of Broward County (Florida) Public Library. The first time she helped a patron locate articles for his literature review she was hooked! Driven by this passion to help others, Heather embarked upon an exciting career in libraries and academic publishing that has taken her on travels near and far.

In her early career, Heather helped learners while working in circulation, reference, interlibrary loan and publishing while at University of Georgia Libraries, InfoSouth, and Dekalb County (Georgia) Public Library.

Heather then served in leadership roles as Director of Educational Services at SOLINET/LYRASIS and most recently as Associated Director of Library Relations and Faculty Outreach at SAGE Publishing. In these roles, Heather built dynamic teams of librarians who delivered educational programs designed to empower and delight library staff, faculty and students throughout the US, Canada and Australia. Heather describes her time serving as Director of Library and Information Resources at American InterContinental University Atlanta as a personal highpoint in her career. Her work with the ambitious and creative students at AIU Atlanta was incredibly inspiring, joyful and deeply rewarding.

Heather is not only passionate about libraries, but about librarians. A true champion of the profession, Heather has spent her career challenging biases perpetuated by stereotype. Rejecting the devaluation of the profession, Heather actively invests in the success of librarians as leaders through mentorship programs, opportunity creation and succession planning. She is accountable to all who came before her, all who share this responsibility with her, and all who will follow. Who runs the world? Librarians.

Heather’s academic accomplishments include a BA in Classics from University of Georgia, MLIS from Clark Atlanta University, and Women in Leadership Certificate from Antioch University Santa Barbara. She is excited to begin the Creative Writing Certificate Program at Emory University this April!

Heather is a proud Atlantan, sometime artist and fulltime mom to her rescuers, pocket-Pitbull Izabel “Izzy” Louise and Heinz 57 Dashiell “Dash” Hammett. Heather spends her free time enjoying live theater and music, painting and writing, “sampling” wine with family and friends, obsessively streaming true crime podcasts, and researching all things Roman and Viking. As Izzy & Dash allow, of course.

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