Akiliah Manuel, Library Director

Akiliah (uh-key-luh) has worked for the City of Lodi since October 2021. During the last two years she galvanized the library team by facilitating a community strength-based approach to strategic and operational planning. The library’s mission statement under her leadership is “We provide a safe space where are all welcome to learn, connect and relax.”  Along those lines Akiliah formed a Teen Advisory Board, brought the library into compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act, extended the summer reading program to teens and adults, wrote and was awarded a grant for patron driven acquisitions, was awarded the PR Excellence award by the California Library Association and initiated cooperative relationships and partnerships with civic, faith based, home school, and social service organizations.

Prior to Lodi, Akiliah worked for the Riverside County Library System for 10 years where she progressed to the Interim Director of Operations for the system which oversees 36 branches, two book mobiles and a museum. Akiliah works closely with the California State Library and affiliated organizations consulting, presenting webinars, and is involved in state level professional development as a mentor/coach to emerging leaders in the library profession. She also spearheads the national initiative Ready Access: Reentry Services for Decarcerated Populations. She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.