Anythink Libraries

Pam Sandlian Smith is the Director of Anythink Libraries in Adams County, Colorado, just north of Denver. Through her leadership, the public library system went from being the worst funded system in the state of Colorado to one of the most recognized library brands nationwide by creating an entirely new service model. Anythink was awarded the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the 2011 John Cotton Dana Award for Outstanding Public Relations, and the Library Journal 2011 Landmark Libraries award. Pam was the 2010 Colorado Librarian of the Year and the recipient of the 2012 Charlie Robinson Award for innovation and risk taking. She has also been honored for her work in library technology innovation and early literacy projects. Through her speaking and writing, Sandlian Smith stimulates discussions on innovation, creativity and participation in libraries worldwide.

She is the 2017-18 President of the Public Library Association and is a member of the working group for the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries. She enjoys traveling, writing, cooking for friends and family, telling stories and inventing libraries that support learning and curiosity.