Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appointed Eduardo Tinoco, associate dean of public services for the USC Libraries, to the Los Angeles Board of Library Commissioners. As a member of the five-person board, Tinoco now helps oversee the Los Angeles Public Library system, which serves the city through its historic Central Library and 72 branch locations.

The board is the library’s governing body and works with the library’s administrative staff to create rules and regulations, supervise personnel and facilities, and approve a $100 million annual budget.

“I am honored by the mayor’s nomination and humbled by this opportunity to serve our city,” Tinoco said. “Public libraries everywhere provide invaluable services to our citizens, and I fondly recall the days when my two boys would empty many bookshelves at our local public library. I am looking forward to serving on the Board of Library Commissioners with my distinguished colleagues.”

Tinoco joined USC in 2004 as a business librarian at the Roy P. Crocker Business Library, where he provided research support to students, faculty and staff of the USC Marshall School of Business. In June, he became the USC Libraries’ associate dean of public services. In that role, his responsibilities include oversight of library service operations on the University Park campus.

Before coming to USC, Tinoco worked as a reference librarian for Lehman Brothers’ Los Angeles office and as a database coordinator for the Motion Picture Association of America. He holds a B.A. from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University.

A veteran of the United States Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, Tinoco is active in USC’s veteran community. He currently serves as faculty adviser to the USC Student Veterans Association and recently helped organize a Veterans Day appearance at USC by Thomas Steinbeck, author, Vietnam veteran and son of writer John Steinbeck.

Asked about the continuing importance of public libraries, Tinoco referred to a quote by the late journalist Walter Cronkite: “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

The Los Angeles City Council confirmed Tinoco’s appointment on Nov. 29. His term will expire on June 30, 2014.

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