State Library Victoria appoints new Director, Collections

State Library Victoria has today announced the appointment of a new Director, Collections. 

Monika Szunejko will join the Library’s executive team in April and play a pivotal role in leading the iconic cultural institution through its next ambitious transformation.

State Library Victoria CEO Paul Duldig said Monika was selected from a very strong field and is the right fit for the role.

“As one of the world’s first free public libraries nearly 170 years ago, State Library Victoria has always been progressive and this remains the case today. We have a bold strategy to be globally recognised as a major destination for stimulating cultural experiences, a trusted custodian of the State Collection, a place for contemporary debates and community-driven collecting, and a gateway to leading-edge digital experiences,” he said.

“Monika is one of Australia’s top library practitioners with deep experience in digital transformation in cultural heritage institutions. She is the ideal candidate to drive the evolution of the Library’s Collection and create world-class access and experiences.”

Szunejko comes from Monash University where she was Director, Collections and Technology for 5 years. She says she is excited to embark on a new chapter of her career at State Library Victoria.

“State Library Victoria forms part of the fabric of Melbourne’s thriving arts and culture scene, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to such a cornerstone of the community,” she said.

“Working at Monash University has been a rich experience and I come to State Library Victoria armed with skills and expertise in building library collections that reflect, engage and connect diverse communities, as well as opening up those collections to share with the broader community.”

Prior to her role at Monash University, Szunejko was Director, Libraries Australia at the National Library of Australia, where she led the national digital service for 1,200 member libraries Australia-wide. Szunejko has been on the Bibliography Standing Committee for the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and was formerly a Board Director on the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).  

The Library has seen record high visitation over the past quarter and is on track to welcome more than 2 million people through its doors this year. The Director, Collections is one of 5 executive positions in the Library’s new-look executive team tasked with delivering the 2023-2026 Strategy.

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