For Immediate Release
August 16, 2022
ANDREA PUCCIO NAMED DIRECTOR OF CLARK ART INSTITUTE LIBRARY
Williamstown, Massachusetts–– Andrea Puccio has been selected as the next director of the Clark Art Institute’s library. Puccio, who previously served as the collections management librarian at the Clark, has been promoted to the leadership role, replacing Susan Roeper who is retiring after a forty-year career at the Clark.
Puccio joined the Clark’s staff in 2016 and has been responsible for managing all operational aspects of the library collection, including cataloging, digital collections, preservation and conservation, and web archiving. In her new role, Puccio leads a full-time staff of ten librarians and archivists in overseeing the library’s collection of some 300,000 volumes.
“After undertaking a rigorous international search, we were extremely proud to recognize that the best qualified candidate to take over as the new director of the library was already a member of our staff,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark Art Institute. “Throughout the hiring process, we were continually impressed with Andrea’s keen insights into the challenges confronting libraries today and with her vision for the ways in which the Clark library can build upon its foundational strengths to address the needs and interests of scholars, researchers, students, and the general public. Andrea’s commitment to the library is deep, her knowledge is extensive, and her professional qualifications are exceptional. She is already a valued and trusted colleague, and we are confident that she will emerge as a strong leader.”
Puccio holds a master of science degree in information and library science from the Pratt Institute, New York, and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston. Prior to joining the Clark, Puccio served for ten years on the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Thomas J. Watson Library as assistant museum librarian and spent a year on the staff of the Morgan Museum and Library, where she cataloged miniature books in the library’s Julia P. Wightman collection. She is a frequent presenter at library conferences and has written extensively on aspects of the Clark’s library collection.
“The last five years at the Clark have been an incredible learning experience and have only deepened my commitment to providing equitable access to critical information and resources,” Puccio said. “I am continually inspired by the care and dedication shown by my colleagues in building and maintaining the library’s collection to serve the needs of today’s users and to ensuring that the collection is preserved and remains accessible long into the future. I am honored to have been selected to lead this team as we begin a new chapter–pun intended!”
ABOUT THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are recommended. Admission is $20. Admission is also free on a year-round basis for Clark members, all visitors age twenty-one and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.
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