NEW HAVEN, CT – Mayor Justin Elicker and Laura Anderson (Chair, New Haven Public Library Board of Directors) released the following statements regarding the passing of John Jessen, City Librarian and Director of the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL).
Jessen started his career with NHFPL as a part-time librarian in August 2004, became a full-time librarian in April 2007, became a Branch Manager of the Wilson Library in September 2012, became Acting Library Director in November 2019, and was appointed City Librarian in December 2019.
Statement by Mayor Justin Elicker
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I learned of City Librarian John Jessen’s passing last night, with his family by his side, after a quiet, personal three-year battle with cancer.
John was a dedicated public servant, a great leader and a passionate champion of our public libraries. John was always quick with a smile, a joke, and was resolute in his "can-do" attitude when called upon to lead. Since taking charge of the New Haven Free Public Library in 2019, John demonstrated so many attributes we all strive to emulate as leaders, first and foremost was his humble and kind service to others. John was committed to our libraries being a welcoming place and resource for all New Haven residents, and his professional and personal impact on the New Haven Free Public Library system will live long past his years of service. John will be deeply missed and the City of New Haven lost a great public servant, but that pales in comparison to the loss felt by his wife Ericka, his two children, and the entire Jessen family, with whom our thoughts are with today and to whom we extend our deepest condolences.
Statement by Laura Anderson -- Chair, Board of Directors, New Haven Free Public Library
“What a joy and inspiration it has been to work with John Jessen and to witness his deep love for and dedication to the Library as a public good. John’s touch, his legacy, is woven across our system and city in so many ways - in the neighborhood children to whom he taught chess, in the many patrons he served with a smile, in the staff that he cared for and mentored, in the outreach and expansion of services - like our soon-to-be Sunday hours - for which he advocated so passionately, and in the example his work ethic and commitment set for others.”
About the New Haven Free Public Library
The New Haven Free Public Library welcomes nearly 700,000 visitors annually through our front doors and digital portals, realizing its mission of fostering lifelong learning, inspiring curiosity, and building community through shared access to resources, experiences, and opportunities for all. The library system includes the Ives Memorial Library on the historic New Haven Green, 24/7 online services, the Readmobile bringing books to early childhood learning centers, and four neighborhood libraries: Fair Haven, Mitchell, Stetson and Wilson. Now and tomorrow, the New Haven Free Public Library will transform lives and contribute to creating a strong, resilient, and informed community where everyone can thrive.
The New Haven Free Public Library is a 2019 winner of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for distinctive service to their communities. For more information, visit nhfpl.org.
