The Barrington Board of Library Trustees search committee announced Friday that it has chosen Kristen Chin of North Scituate as the next library director. 

Ms. Chin, who currently serves as the director of the Medfield Public Library, will succeed Deborah Barchi on Oct. 30. The board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of hiring Ms. Chin.

“After thorough succession planning and a comprehensive search process, the committee is pleased to have found the best individual to assume leadership of our community’s first-class library" said Dean Robinson, the chairman of the library director search committee. 

"The trustees are delighted that Kristen Chin will be the next director of the Barrington Public Library. Kristen's vision of how libraries fit in the future and her skill-set make us confident in our choice" added Vincent Wicker, chairman of the library board of trustees. 

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha was pleased with the selection.

“Kristen is the best choice from a deep pool of interested and highly qualified candidates,” said Mr. Cunha. “I look forward to having her as part of my team”.  

Current library director Deborah Barchi is slated to retire on Nov. 3.  

“I am so pleased that the library trustees have selected Kris Chin as the next director of Barrington Public Library," said Ms. Barchi. "I know she will do a great job. I have worked with Kris for years on a variety of statewide library committees, and I have always been impressed by her hard work and her true belief in the value of public libraries in our communities.” 

Ms. Chin comes to Barrington with a wealth of experience, having more than 15 years of public library experience with 11 years as a director. She started her career as a children’s librarian for the Foster Public Library and the Tyler Free Library in Foster. She moved on to become the director of the libraries of Foster until March of 2015.

Kristen received her bachelor of science in business management from Rhode Island College and a masters in library science from the University of Rhode Island and is a member of the Massachusetts Library Association and the American Library Association. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband Wellington, and has two daughters Meghan and Jillian.  

“I am looking forward to getting to know the library staff, trustees and community in the wonderful town of Barrington and I will continue the good work that has been done before me with an eye for all of the possibilities for the future,” said Ms. Chin.