News Release
Great River Regional Library
GRRL Headquarters:
1300 W. St. Germain St.
St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-650-2500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Breanne Fruth
Communications and Development Coordinator
320-650-2532
Subject: Great River Regional Library Welcomes New Executive Director
The Great River Regional Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Brandi Canter has been named its new Executive Director. In her role, Brandi will provide strategic direction and align library resources with community needs.
Brandi is no stranger to Great River Regional Library (GRRL), as she has been with the library system since 2001. The Royalton Public Library started as her home base as the Library Services Coordinator there until 2009. In this role, she managed the books on the library shelves, interacted with patrons, provided community programming, led outreach initiatives, and provided local leadership. From there, she advanced into the Patron Services Supervisor role, overseeing a third of GRRL’s Library Service Coordinators across the region. Advancing further, she currently holds the Lead Patron Services Supervisor role.
Thus far, her favorite part about working at the library has been, “working directly with staff and patrons. A close second is being a part of GRRL going Fines Free in 2022.”
As a long-standing member of the library’s leadership team, she has been a part of much innovation to meet community needs and interests. Throughout her time, she has not only seen the library system go Fines Free, she has also taken part in many library projects, including new library construction projects, expanding access with eCards, installing wireless Internet at all library buildings, adding a digital streaming service, and implementing wireless printing service, among many others.
Brandi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montana, a Master’s degree in Media Studies from St. Cloud State University, and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin. She was selected after a thorough recruitment process from an appointed Executive Director Transition & Search Committee.
“The board is excited to welcome Brandi and see her leadership in the upcoming 2026-2030 Strategic Plan,” said Jayne Dietz, president of the GRRL Board of Trustees. “We have seen firsthand how she is deeply committed to GRRL’s mission and to the communities we serve.”
Community members, library staff, and donors are invited to join us for Espresso with the Executive Director, a meet-and-greet opportunity, on November 20 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the St. Cloud Public Library in the Bremer Community Room. Come celebrate a new library chapter with us, congratulate Brandi on her new role, and enjoy some afternoon espresso together!
Great River Regional Library (GRRL) provides library services at 32 public libraries and one to-go system in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. GRRL2GO is a locker system that allows you to pick up items at the Sartell Community Center. GRRL supplies the residents of Central Minnesota with nearly 1 million books, CDs, DVDs, 250 public computers, and information services.
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