Vanessa Czopek
County Librarian

When she was in high school, Vanessa Czopek’s (ZOPEK) parents told her that, since she liked to read so much, she should get paid for it. That was the beginning of a life-long career in libraries. Vanessa has worked in libraries in Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

She began working for Stanislaus County Library in 1996 as Branch Coordinator and was appointed County Librarian in December 2001.

She is a native Californian, born in Berkeley and raised in Southern California. She and her husband, Paul, have four daughters and two grandchildren. Vanessa is the practical one who buys books and reads to them.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University Los Angeles and a master’s in Library Science from the University of Arizona. Professionally, she is a member of the California Library Association, the Public Library Association, and currently serves as president of the California County Librarians Association. She has had a number of articles published in professional literature.

In addition to serving as county librarian, she is a past-president of the Modesto Kiwanis Club, is affiliated with the League of Women Voters and the McHenry Museum and Historical Society. She is also a member of the Haven Women’s Center Board of Directors.

Vanessa says she still likes to read, but that there seems to be less and less time for it recently.