"I am honored to be representing people in their library needs," said Curzon. "I am representing the Fifth (Supervisorial) District, Antonovich's district, and I hope that my experience at CSUN and as a former employee of the county library will be a valuable resource to the commission."

The 20-member commission, which includes mayors and city council members from throughout Los Angeles County, advises the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian on library policy, administration, operation and service. It also makes suggestions and recommendations on any matters that come before the commission.

The County of Los Angeles Public Library is one of the largest in the nation and provides service to more than 3.5 million residents living in unincorporated areas and to residents in 51 of the 88 incorporated cities in the county. Its service area extends over 3,000 square miles.

Curzon has been dean of the University Library at Cal State Northridge since 1992. Prior to that she was director of libraries for the city of Glendale. She also worked for the County of Los Angeles Public Library in a variety of positions, including as a regional administrator supervising 11 branches, a books-by-mail service and four bookmobiles.

Curzon has a doctorate in public administration from the University of Southern California, a master's in librarianship from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Riverside.

The Oviatt Library, CSUN's main library, is home to more than one million volumes, three million microfilms, 125,000 government publications, 7,798 periodical titles and an extensive historical collection of mixed media, rare books and archives. It serves as the main research facility for the San Fernando Valley.

California State University, Northridge has more than 30,000 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."