Rooted in the community he serves

William Ferro’s roots run deep as he grew up in Gibson, lives there still and began working at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library as a paid page when he was a Hewlett High School sophomore in 1989.

Ferro, 41, met his wife of 13 years, Maryann, another Hewlett High graduate, in the library, and the couple who have their three children attending Hewlett-Woodmere schools, work in the same building as she is the children’s librarian.

One year after being named assistant library director, Ferro is ready to take the reigns from Susan O. de Sciora, who retired after 27 years as Hewlett-Woodmere’s director. “The transition has been going very well and we have had the past year to work together,” said Ferro who celebrated his birthday on April 1.

Originally, Ferro was heading toward becoming a teacher as he pursued his bachelor’s degree at Queens College. But when it came time to decide on which career path to follow, he took a detour. “I like helping people and as a librarian you are asked questions and get to answer them,” Ferro said. “I am always learning and consider myself very curious. I have a thirst for knowledge.”

His thirst is continually being quenched as Ferro has held a series of jobs at the library, including being very involved in its technical services department. “I helped to set up the library’s computers,” said Ferro, who like his predecessor made it a point to credit the 67-person staff for their work. “If it’s plugged in, I was involved at some point.”

After being interviewed twice by the library’s trustees, Ferro made enough of an impression to be promoted, said Board President Ben Eilbott, who not only noted Ferro’s technical prowess, but his people skills and knowledge. “We were very, very happy with the second interview and we feel he knows when to say no and when to say yes and are impressed with his grasp of what the library has to offer,” Eilbott said.

Eilbott said the de Sciora “made our library a jewel” and Ferro plans on expanding the technology services she began, saying that he would like to connect a printer for patrons who use their own devices in the library, have tablets available for lending and do live streaming of library events.