The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today the appointment of Michelle Underhill as the new State Librarian of North Carolina. Underhill currently serves as Digital Services Supervisor with the State Library and was previously Director of the SLNC Government & Heritage Library.
“Michelle Underhill brings years of experience and passion to the State Librarian role,” said Secretary Reid Wilson. “I’m confident she will do an excellent job guiding the State Library in its mission to enrich the lives of North Carolinians through access to books and information resources.”
“The programs and services of the State Library have incredible impact and reach across the state,” said Underhill. “I am excited and honored to have this opportunity and look forward to working with all the communities the State Library serves.”
A native of Stephens City, Virginia, Underhill began her library career at Wake County Public Libraries, followed by service at the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of Environmental Education, and various positions at the State Library of North Carolina. She served as Executive Director of Phoenix Landing Foundation beginning in 2019 before returning to the State Library in 2021.
Her accomplishments with the State Library of North Carolina include leading digitization initiatives, growing NCpedia (an online encyclopedia of North Carolina history, people, and culture), fostering collaborations with partners such as UNC Press and Our State Magazine, and spearheading the effort to extend borrowing privileges to all North Carolina residents. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science at UNC-Greensboro and is the 2011 recipient of the Gale Cengage Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Services for her work with NCpedia.
Underhill began her new role Monday, June 20.