A new chapter begins for Arcadia and Samantha Alba, who will serve as the next director for Arcadia’s Library and Museum Services Department. The appointment follows the retirement of former director Darlene Bradley in early July 2026, after 20 years of service.
Alba has been part of the Arcadia team since 2014. She has held various roles from account services supervisor to library services manager in 2022. She brings more than 22 years of experience in library systems, including roles at the UCLA Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library.
She holds a master’s degree in library and information science from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Director of Library and Museum Services. After more than 12 years with the City of Arcadia, I’m truly honored to continue working alongside our dedicated Library and Museum employees in serving our community. I look forward to embracing innovation and continuing to provide exceptional programs and services for our community,” said Alba.
During her tenure with Arcadia, Alba has played a key role in implementing new inventory technology for over 160,000 items using wireless tags to track items checked in and out of the library. She also led the continuation of library services during the COVID-19 pandemic for front door pickup and online library card registration.
Alba will oversee both the Arcadia Public Library and the Gilb Museum.