Edmonton, AB, July 21, 2026 – Following a comprehensive North American search, the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) Board of Trustees has appointed Sharon Day as EPL's next Chief Executive Officer, effective August 17, 2026.
Day brings more than 20 years of public library leadership, including 17 at EPL. Since joining in 2009, she has served in progressively senior positions. For the past four years, she has led the strategic and operational direction for all 21 branches as Executive Director, Customer Experience. Throughout her career, she has championed intellectual freedom, equitable access to information, and community-focused service.
“We are delighted to welcome Sharon as our next CEO,” said Shawna Vogel, Chair of the EPL Board of Trustees. “Sharon brings deep knowledge of the organization, a strong commitment to public service, and a clear vision for the future of public libraries. The Board is confident she is the right person to build on EPL’s strengths and lead the organization into its next chapter.”
Day holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. Before joining EPL, she held leadership roles at libraries in Alberta and Saskatchewan. At EPL, her roles have included Branch Manager, Manager, Collection Management and Access and Director, Branch Services and Collections. Nationally, she has led digital content advocacy efforts through the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) and served on eBound Canada’s Board of Directors. She also helped develop and implement national intellectual freedom training for library staff in partnership with the University of Alberta and the Centre for Free Expression.
“I am honoured to step into this role,” said Day. “Having spent much of my career at EPL, I’ve seen firsthand what this organization means to our customers. Libraries are essential public infrastructure because they connect people to community, culture, and knowledge. It is a privilege to lead an organization that fosters those connections every day. I am grateful to Pilar, who leaves EPL stronger and more innovative than she found it, and to the staff whose dedication has built one of North America's leading public library systems. I am excited to continue this work with our staff, trustees, partners, and the communities we serve.”
Day succeeds Pilar Martinez, who served 26 years with EPL, including 11 as CEO. Martinez leaves the Library with a newly adopted strategic plan, a strong leadership team, a legacy of innovation, growth in community-led service, and a lasting commitment to intellectual freedom. She will remain with EPL until mid-September to support the transition.
About the Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is a gathering place for people and ideas, enabling a lifetime of learning, engagement, and possibility for every Edmontonian. The second most visited place in Edmonton, EPL welcomes over 15.4 million in-branch and online visits each year across its 21 branches and website. We deliver our incredible content to you everywhere—in the library, at home, or on your handheld device. Unmatched access and unrivalled value: that's today's EPL.
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Media Contact:
Béné Garmier, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Fund Development
EPLMedia@epl.ca