The Library’s Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Christine Schonhart as Library Director, effective early August 2026. Schonhart, a Western New York native, joins Buffalo’s oldest cultural institution from Brooklyn Public Library, where she has served as Deputy Chief Librarian. The appointment follows a national search and was approved by the Board of Trustees earlier today.
Schonhart brings over 25 years of library leadership to the role. She holds a Master of Library Science from the University at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fredonia State University of New York. In addition to her current role at Brooklyn Public Library, she has previously served as director of Brooklyn Central Library, the King County Library System in Washington State, Boston Public Library, and the Gleason Public Library in Massachusetts.
Board Chair Carima El-Behairy welcomed the appointment, “On behalf of our Board, we are thrilled to welcome Christine Schonhart to lead the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Schonhart offers the strategic expertise and operational excellence we sought, and the community-minded spirit of our North Star: to remain, always, Profoundly Public.”
During her tenure at Brooklyn Central Library, Schonhart was instrumental in several high-profile initiatives that drew national attention and demonstrated her commitment to continuing to make libraries accessible and to keeping programming culturally relevant.
In 2022, the Library relaunched its vinyl record collection, bringing back a beloved program that allowed cardholders to borrow from a curated collection of 400 albums spanning hip-hop, jazz, rock, country, and more, with in-library turntable stations for on-site listening. Buffalo’s library launched a similar program last year.
Brooklyn Central Library also hosted the “Book of HOV,” an immersive exhibition celebrating Jay-Z’s life and career in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Entirely funded by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, the exhibition featured rare photos, memorabilia, original recordings, and a replica of his recording studio, and was free and open to the public. The exhibition, paired with the release of 13 limited-edition Jay-Z album artwork library cards, resulted in 14,000 new library memberships.
Schonhart will assume the role of permanent Director in early August 2026, succeeding Interim Director Dorinda Darden, who was appointed last spring following the illness and passing of Library Director John Spears. El-Behairy acknowledged the library’s recent transition period with gratitude. “After a period of loss and transition, the Library is excited to welcome a new chapter for the people’s cultural institution in Buffalo. We are confident Christine Schonhart will not only meet this moment of transformation for our communities and libraries, but also will be a trusted voice and advocate against troubling, organized challenges to the free access to information.”
El-Behairy also expressed appreciation for the outgoing interim director. “The Board of Trustees is grateful to Librarian Dorinda Darden, whose steady leadership and more than thirty years of experience helped to move our mission forward, while steering staff through extraordinary circumstances.”
Established in 1836, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is Buffalo’s oldest cultural institution, serving more than 2.35 million visitors annually through 37 branches and mobile services. In 2025, every dollar invested in the library returned $4.24 in community benefits, totaling over $131 million in annual value.
For more information, visit buffalolib.org.