JP Porcaro’s CV

John Patrick “JP” Porcaro is a proven team-builder who can energize ideas, motivate people, and deliver results.

last updated August 2025 – links were active at that point

EDUCATION

MLIS, Rutgers School of Communication and Information, New Brunswick, NJ. 2006.
Took all Master’s level coursework required by NJ to become a certified School Media Specialist.
BA in Philosophy, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ. 2003.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

WRITING

INFLUENCE AND INTERVIEWS

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

  • Senior Advisor to EveryLibrary political action committee, 2013-2023.
  • (ALA) New Members Round Table Councilor to ALA Council and Executive Board Member, 2016-2019.
  • (ALA) Founding president of Games & Gaming Round Table (GameRT), 2011-2012.
  • (ALA) Founding convener of Comic Book & Graphic Novel Member Initiative Group, 2011-2017, which is now the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table.
  • (NJLA) Executive Board: Member-at-large, 2012-2013; ALA Councilor, 2013-2014.
  • (NJLA) President of Emerging Technologies Section, 2012-2013.
  • Member of LibraryLinkNJ Technology CE Advisory Group, 2011-2014.

SPEAKING & MODERATING

(2013 – 2017). Moderator, with Patrick Sweeney, American Library Association’s Annual Conference & Midwinter Meeting “Ignite” sessions. (These sessions were routinely the most well-attended non-keynote sessions at their respective events)

(2015, April 28). “Making It Happen Where You Are” Featured Speaker, Connecticut Library Association Conference.

(2015, April 17). “Inspiring Change, Advocating Goodness, Making It Happen” Closing Keynote, Kentucky Library Association Academic and Special Sections and Special Library Association Kentucky Chapter 2015 Joint Spring Conference.

(2015, March 31). “Making It Happen Where You Are” Webinar presented on behalf of New York Library Association Conference.

(2014, December 19). “Library Leadership At All Levels” Webinar presented on behalf of Gale Cengage for their Gale Geek Webinar series.

(2014, December 6). Keynote for Special Libraries Association Michigan Chapter holiday luncheon, Dearborn, MI.

(2014, December 5). “Inspiring Change, Advocating Goodness, & Making It Happen” Presentation on behalf of Gale Cengage and the Library of Michigan, Farmington Hills, MI.

(2014, June 29). “Professionalism is Killing the Profession” Presenter for Conversation Starter, American Library Association Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

(2014, June 3). “New Job Titles for 21st Century Librarians” Panel Member for Presentation at the New Jersey Library Association Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

(2013, October 23). “Making It Happen Wherever You Are” Webinar presented on behalf of the Leadership Development Forum and New Member Round Table of the Virginia Library Association.

(2013, June 5). “I Can Borrow What?” Panel Member for Presentation at the New Jersey Library Association Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

(2013, March 24). “How to Run a Tournament: Bringing Together Your Local Community” Panel member for Presentation at PAX East Video Game convention, Convention Center in Boston, MA.

(2013, February 27). “Emerging Technologies and Trends in the Library World” Panel Member for Presentation at Rutgers MLIS Colloquium, New Brunswick, NJ.

(2013, January 26). “Something Awesome TBA” Ignite Session on Gamification, American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, WA.

(2012, December 13). “50 Awesome Things for Kids and Teens” Keynote for Essex County Children’s Librarians group, South Orange, NJ.

(2012, December 6). Keynote for Nassau County Library Association Young Adult Services Division’s annual brunch, Uniondale, Long Island, NY.

(2012, October 8). Keynote for Westport Public Library’s staff development day, Westport, CT.

(2012, October 4). “Make It Happen – Take Action” Panel Member for The Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference.

(2012, July 10). “Digital Libraries – Connectivity, Convergence, Confluence” Virtual Member for Panel Discussion at the Library Management Institute Summer Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

(2012, June 7). “2012 NMRT Online Program: Professional Networking for New Librarians” Panel Member for ALA’s New Member Round Table annual webinar series.

(2012, June 6). “Visualize it: Information & Operations” Panel Member for Presentation at the New Jersey Library Association Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

(2012, June 5). “50 Awesome Things” Panel Member for Presentation at the New Jersey Library Association Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

(2012, May 8). “50 Awesome Things” Panel Member for Presentation at the Connecticut Library Association Conference, Groton, CT.

(2012, April 18). “The Future of College Libraries: Serving Undergraduate Students” Panel Member for Rutgers SCARLA program, New Brunswick, NJ.

(2012, March 22). “Visualize it: Information & Operations” Panel Member for Presentation at the Computers in Libraries Conference, Washington, DC.

(2012, March 16). “What Makes a Collection? Redefining the Library through the Collection” Panel Member for Presentation at Public Library Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

(2012, February 1). “Mobile Gaming in Libraries” Handheld Librarian Online Conference.

(2012, January 17). Spoke on “ALA Think Tank” and “#makeithappen” for IFLA “New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations” quarterly webinar series.

(2011, October 13). “Video Game Collection Development for Libraries” Panel Organizer and Moderator at New York Comic Convention, Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY.

(2011, October 13). “National Gaming Day @ your library: Using Video Games and Comic Books as Library Outreach Tools” Panel Organizer and Moderator at New York Comic Convention, Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY.

(2011, October 3). Lead discussion group on ALA’s Emerging Leaders program titled “#makeithappen”, New England Library Association conference, Burlington, VT.

(2011, June 26). “Video Games for Teens in the Library” YALSA Pecha Kucha presentation at the American Library Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

(2011, June 25). “#makeithappen” American Library Association Emerging Leaders Summit, New Orleans, LA.

(2011, May 12). “Using Gaming and Graphic Novels to Market Library Services” Library Association of Rockland County Conference, Nanuet, NY.

(2011, May 3). “Video Games in Libraries: Collection Development and Community Engagement” New Jersey Library Association Conference, Long Branch, NJ.

(2011, May 2). “#makeithappen” National Library Unconference Day ’11 Virtual Keynote.

(2011, May 2). “Gaming in Libraries: Programming, Marketing, Collection Development & the Future” Connecticut Library Association Conference, Stamford, CT.

(2011, January 7). Co-facilitated the 2011 American Library Association Midwinter Unconference titled Remixing Libraries, San Diego, CA.

(2010, November 17). Guest Speaker for Rutgers Association of School Librarians’ colloquium on “Librarianship Choices”, New Brunswick, NJ.

(2010, November 17). “Pokémon, Learning, and Libraries” Webinar presented on behalf of Infolink for their continuing education class offerings.

(2010, October 18). “10 Technologies Every Librarian Should Know” Panel Member for Presentation at the NJLA Adult Services Forum, Manalapan NJ.

(2010, October 18). “Video Game Collection Development 101” NJLA Adult Services Forum, Manalapan NJ.

(2010, October 8). “Why Graphic Novels Should Be In Your Library” Panel Member for presentation at the New York Comic Convention, Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY.

(2010, August 25). “Video Game Collection Development 101” Webinar presented on behalf of the Nebraska State Library Commission for their NCompassLive series.

(2010, June 28). “Pokémon, Learning, and Libraries” American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC.

(2010, June 28). “Using Gaming as a Tool for Libraries and Classrooms” American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC.

(2010, June 27). “Video Game Collection Development: The Basics” American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC.

(2010, June 27). “Using Gaming and Graphic Novels to Market Library Services” American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC.

(2010, June 25). “ASCLA 21st Century Grant” Poster Session at the American Library Association Conference, Washington, DC.

(2010, April 27). “Using Gaming and Graphic Novels to Market Library Services” New Jersey Library Association Conference, Long Branch, NJ.

(2010, April 17). “Getting Your Graphic Novel Collection Started: How To Select, Shelve, And Promote Great Lists For Kids, Tweens, Teens, and Adult Collections” Panel Member for presentation at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Lakeside Center, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.

(2010, April 16). “Using nontraditional media to teach literacy skills to boys (and girls!)” Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Lakeside Center, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.

(2010, April 13). “Crafting Online Personas” Computers in Libraries Conference, Arlington, VA.

(2010, March 13). “Gaming: All Libraries & All Ages” Presented webinar on behalf of 8bitlibrary.com.

(2009, October 28). “How to Stream your Presentations on the Internet,” NJLA Ref, Tech & Tango Adult Services Forum, Manalapan NJ.

(2009, June 12). Won BattleDecks competition at Pres4Lib Library Presentation Camp, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ.

(2008, April & October). “A Perfect Fit: Programming That Fits Your Community and Your Budget”, Panel Member for Infolink Continuing Education Classes, Livingston, NJ.

(2007, March). Guest Speaker for Rutgers Association of School Librarians’ colloquium on “Youth Services in New Jersey”, New Brunswick, NJ.

(2006, April 25). “Recruiting for Libraries – What Have We Learned?”, Panel member for presentation at New Jersey Library Association Conference, Long Branch, NJ.

(2004, October 4). “How Public Libraries Can Help Homeschoolers”, Panel member for presentation at the NJLA Youth Services Forum, Manalapan, NJ.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Library Director, East Orange Public Library, East Orange NJ, 03/2023 – present. As chief executive for the $4.3 million EOPL, I direct all library operations including all finances, staff administration, and facilities management. I focus on bringing the library’s physical building and services offered up to 21st Century standards. I report to a 9 member Board of Trustees, oversee a civil service & unionized staff environment, and manage an ongoing $1.7 million building renovation. 


● Budget 

○ Administer $4.3 million yearly budget. 

○ Work with municipal government administration to secure funding for purchases outside of library budget, including furniture and HVAC purchases beyond the scope of EOPL’s annual budget.

● Community Reach

○ Foster relationships with community organizations to build towards the Mayor’s theme of “progress” within the city and state. Built new relationships with community leaders including being on the ground-floor for the regrowth of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce. 

○ Outreach to the community has led to the opening of EOPL’s Small Business Center in 2026, a novel approach to supporting our community’s businesses.

○ Introduced new partnership with the East Orange School District, which includes every public school 1st grade student having a public library visit, public library card, and in-school library training.

● Technology

○ Oversees massive update of EOPL’s entire technology infrastructure, including replacement of servers, increase of public computer terminal access, and implementation of new server-side policies and user-side technology access.

○ Maintains the most advanced public technological infrastructure in East Orange to stay on the forefront of urban technological services to residents.

● Leadership

○ Attends all Municipal Department Head and bi-weekly City Council meetings.

○ Builds relationships with city stakeholders to keep EOPL involved in municipal decision making.

○ Increased library public service hours during the regular year and summer.

● Personnel 

○ Serves on municipal committee for ongoing contract negotiations with two of EOPL’s staff unions.

○ Interfaces with Library legal counsel, Municipal HR and Law departments, staff unions, and municipal and library department heads to ensure the highest level of personnel service to the public.

Library Director, Bayonne Free Public Library and Cultural Center, Bayonne NJ, 04/2018 – 03/2023. In my five years as chief executive for the $3 million Bayonne Library, I directed all operations and services of a library system serving the 70,000 residents in Bayonne. I focused on updating the services and library workflow to match modern library standards. I reported to a 9 member Board of Trustees, oversaw a civil service & unionized staff environment, and designed and helmed a $2 million building renovation of a beautiful first-round original Carnegie building.


● Budget 

○ Administered budget, which increased from $1.85 million in FY 2018 to $3.02 million in FY 2023.

○ Secured and oversaw $1 million in grant funding from NJ Construction Bond Act. This included securing $1 million in library matching funding, $650k of which was provided by a bond approved by Bayonne City Council.

● Community Reach

○ Served on city-wide committees including the 150 Anniversary committee, Census Complete Count committee, and COVID Task Force.

○ Increased library hours for 2nd floor by 24% through staffing reorganization. 

● Innovation & Renovation 

○ Introduced new website, replacing 90’s era HTML site with a new back-end CMS that included fundraising, social media, and mass email options.

○ Renovated six rooms, for use by the public as meeting spaces, in fiscal years 2018 & 2019. Five of those rooms were previously inaccessible to the general public.

○ Replaced all computers and increased amount of computers; introduced more options for and availability of technology. Doubled amount of WiFi and increased bandwidth by 20x. 

● Leadership

○ Began work on Bayonne Library’s first ever strategic plan, with members of Library Board of Trustees.

● Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

○ Increased amount of ADA accessible areas. All relevant portions of NJ Construction Bond renovation address and ensure barrier-free accessibility. 

○ Reviewed hiring practices to encourage the hiring of more BIPOC.

Librarian for Acquisitions and Technological Discovery,New Jersey City University, Jersey City NJ, 07/2011-04/2018. As Acquisitions Department Head, directly managed all full-time staff & department workflow. Managed library’s materials budget of $500k-$600k, worked with University offices on procurement procedures, and introduced “tech innovations” to campus. Successes include launching a text message reference service and continuing work started during previous position. Was awarded tenure by the University in 2015.

Virtual Services Librarian, New Jersey City University, Jersey City NJ, 08/2009-07/2011. Provided in-person and virtual reference to students and staff, taught many information literacy sessions per semester, and participated in campus information literacy efforts – including serving on the College of Arts and Science General Studies Committee. Launched new services, such as teaching sessions online and providing tutorials via streaming.

Head of Children’s Services, Belleville Public Library and Information Center, Belleville NJ, 04/2005-08/2009. Managed all department staff and budget, including purchasing and cataloging all department materials. Oversaw library circulation system and performed advanced tech support on library technology. Acted as liaison between schools and library, including lead role in designing public school district’s summer reading list and teaching in-service days.

Reference Librarian, Belleville Public Library and Information Center, Belleville NJ, 02/2004-04/2005

Part-time Library Page, Belleville Public Library and Information Center, Belleville NJ, 12/1996-02/2004

Part-time Systems and Electronic Resources Librarian, Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City NJ, 04/2008-10/2008. Managed all library electronic systems and networks and administered ILS, including user-side and server-side activities, while library did search for full-time candidate.

Part-Time Reference Librarian,South Orange Public Library, South Orange NJ, 12/2004-04/2008

School Librarian Internship, Montclair High School, Montclair NJ, Spring 2006.