Bayonne Library Director Resigns for New Opportunity in East Orange, Interim Director Takes Over

Bayonne Library Director J.P. Porcaro has announced that he is leaving his position effective March 24, having accepted the position of Library Director in East Orange. Porcaro, who has served as Library Director in Bayonne since 2018, has advised the Library Board of Trustees and the City of Bayonne of his departure.

In a letter to the library’s Board of Trustees, Porcaro reflected on his tenure in Bayonne, writing, “Since starting my position as Director in April 2018, I’ve worked to bring our library into the present culture. I am very happy with the progress the Trustees and I have made, not the least of which is our $2 million-plus renovation project.” That project is currently underway.

Porcaro expressed gratitude to the Bayonne City Council for their financial support of the library “throughout the renovation process” and thanked the Bayonne Board of Education “for working closely with me on history and reading partnerships.”

The Bayonne Library Board of Trustees has named Bayonne Outreach Librarian Melody Scagnelli-Townley as Interim Director while the Board prepares a search for a permanent Director. Scagnelli-Townley has served as Outreach Librarian in Bayonne since 2019 and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She previously worked for the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, the Mahwah School District, and the Woodbridge School District, among others.

Scagnelli-Townley holds a New Jersey Professional Librarian Certificate and a Certificate of Eligibility as a School Library Media Specialist. She earned a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science at Rutgers University in 2013, and was named an American Library Association Emerging Leader in 2017. She recently finished a term on the 2022 Alex Award Selection Committee.

The Bayonne Library is an important institution in the community, providing access to books, resources, and services for residents of all ages. The departure of Porcaro is certainly a loss, but the library is in capable hands with Scagnelli-Townley leading the way as Interim Director.