Skip to main content

Siobhan O’Loughlin Reardon

Consultant

Riverfront Associates, LLC

Siobhan O’Loughlin Reardon

Ms. O’Loughlin Reardon is an accomplished non-profit executive with strategic leadership, operational and financial expertise in leading, managing and expanding community-based initiatives. She is the former President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the 13th largest library system in the United States. Siobhan was the first woman to serve as the Free Library of Philadelphia’s President and Director in the organization’s 115-year history. The Library’s Building Inspiration Campaign: 21stCentury Libraries Initiative, provided for a multi-million-dollar public/private partnership to improve upon and enhance physical and programmatic changes necessary to present a viable 21st Century library organization. The Campaign led to the development of several new “centers” which helped focus the work of staff in the areas of literacy development, health, civic discourse and cultural enrichment as well as support for the entrepreneurial and small business communities. Ms. Reardon also oversaw the merger between the renowned Rosenbach Museum & Library and the Free Library, combining two of the finest collections of rare materials into one of world-class standing. Siobhan was named Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year in 2015.

Siobhan has transitioned to a portfolio career having started her own consulting practice in 2020 which supports non-profit organizations in attaining and sustaining organizational success. In that role Siobhan currently supports the Campaign for Grade Level Reading as the Auerbach-Berger Senior Fellow for the organization’s Everyday Places and Spaces Initiative. In addition, she currently serves on Boards for the Philadelphia Education Fund where she serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and Treasurer, the Irish American Business Chamber and Network where she serves as Secretary, and the Satell Institute for Corporate Responsibility where she serves on the Executive Board and Treasurer of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania. Siobhan also served as Chair of the Metropolitan Library Section of the International Federation of Library and Associations (IFLA), Chair of The Parkway Council and board member for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

For more than 40 years, Siobhan held roles of increasing responsibility, complexity and size achieving a track record of programmatic growth, data-based decision making which promoted operating efficiencies, and financial stability which involved governmental and private fundraising experience. She successfully demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, and execution of transformational changes in project management, capital planning, information technology and leadership development across three significantly different library systems, for profit and non-profit affiliations. Siobhan also served as Executive Director of the Westchester (NY) Library System, Deputy Executive Director of the Brooklyn (NY) Public Library, and Budget Director of the New York Public Library. She holds a BA in Political Science from Purchase College (NY), an MA from Fordham University in International Political Economy and Development, and an MS in Library Science from the Palmer School of Library Science at Long Island University. Siobhan also served in financial and strategic planning roles at Pinkerton, Inc. and The Borden Company.