Simmons College

Gary Shaffer is the director of marketing for the Sacramento Public Library. A graduate of the joint Pratt Institute and Brooklyn Public Library Public Urban Library Services Education (PULSE) program and the Urban Library Council's Executive Leadership Institute, Gary was named "one of 50 people shaping the future of libraries," by Library Journal in 2006.

He has worked in all aspects of library public service while in the PULSE program in New York and he also worked as the public services (administrative) librarian and as a second-level reference librarian for the County of Los Angeles Public Library.

Gary holds an M.L.S. from the Pratt Institute and a master of professional writing degree from the University of Southern California. Prior to working in libraries, Gary supervised large accounts for various advertising agencies. He has used the skills learned in that field to formulate various partnerships for libraries. He is most proud of a joint writing and tutoring drop-in center for youth at the Brooklyn Public Library, which he started in conjunction with author Dave Eggers' nonprofit: 826NYC. He has also given numerous speeches and published articles on strategic partnerships and library advocacy. He is a member of the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society. In 2008 Gary was elected by public librarians across the US and Canada to a three year position on the Public Library Association Board of Directors.