After 46 years, more than 15 of those with the City of Mesquite, the Director of Library Services, Virginia Mundt, closes the book on her lifetime of civil service. This week at a retirement party, there were cheers and tears for the library leader who has meant so much to the City. Mayor Daniel Alemán, Jr. even proclaimed Virginia Mundt Day in her honor, saying her dedication has certainly left a positive mark on Mesquite.   

Mundt ushered in an expansion of library services, leading the Mesquite Public Library into the digital age, implementing a series of processes to help broaden and streamline services for residents. To rubber stamp her contribution, the Mesquite Public Library received the Texas Municipal Library Directors Award for nine years in a row during her tenure, which acknowledges Excellence in Library Services.

As one chapter closes, another begins, with Lorie Travi stepping in as the new Director of Library Services for the City of Mesquite. Travi was promoted from the position of Assistant Director, which she held since April of this year. She came to the City with nearly 20 years of experience in library services.

Before Mesquite, Travi served as the Director of Systems and Performance Outcomes with the Kitchener Public Library in Ontario, Canada, where her role included strategic and long-term planning, creation of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, leading several software migrations to cloud-based systems, relationship management, contract negotiations and overseeing the department budget.

Travi earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas and a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. She holds a Public Library Leaders Certificate (2023) and has served as an Ontario Library Association mentor, with the United Way for the City of Hamilton and on the board of Inform Ontario.