Peter Coyl is the Library Director and CEO of the Sacramento Public Library, the 4th largest library system in California serving the 19th largest population in the United States.

Previously he was Director of the Montclair Public Library one of the busiest municipal libraries in New Jersey.  During his tenure the Library has received 4 programming grants from the American Library Association, and a multicultural programming award from the New Jersey State Library.

An advocate for Intellectual Freedom, he served as President of Freedom to Read Foundation (2022-23), on the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee, and serves on ALA Council representating the Intellectual Freedom Round Table.  He also serves on the California Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.  He previously served on the New Jersey Library Association Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee and the Texas Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Peter is an advocate for representation and  inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in library services, programs, and policies, and is proud to be a member of the Public Library Associations Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Task Force. He is also the past chair of the American Library Association GLBT Round Table and Stonewall Book Award committee.    In 2016 he was named to Drexel Magazine's 40 Under 40 List. 

An active Library Professional, he is a member of the California Library Association (CLA), the Public Library Association (PLA), the Freedom to Read Foundation, and the American Library Association (ALA). He has presented at regional, state, national, and internatioal library conferences on intellectual freedom, public library services, and library management as well as presented webinars with the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom.  

He has also been interviewed and quoted by major national media outlets including National Public Radio, Huffington Post, Forbes, Library Journal, and American Libraries.

Peter earned his Masters of Science in Library and Information Science from Drexel University where he focused on library service to children and young adults. During his graduate studies He was awarded the Dorris Keller Hossler Endowed Fellowship by Drexel University as well as the Knower Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Special Library Association. His undergraduate degree is in Public Administration and Public Policy with a minor in East Asian (China) Studies from Oakland University.  After completing his undergraduate degree he worked as the Chief of Staff to a the Speaker Pro Tempore and Chair of the Human Services Ways and Means Committee at the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

He spent a semester studying in Beijing at the China Foreign Affairs University and a year studying chinese in Taipei at Taiwan National Normal University's Mandarin Training Center.  He once published an article about some differences between Traditional and Simplified chinese.

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