UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2026 / Marcus Who's Who honors Thomas Edelblute for excellence in library services. Mr.Edelblute has more than three decades of leadership in public libraries and library automation. Since 2015, he has served as senior library services manager for user support services at the Anaheim Public Library. In his current position, he oversees library automation, collection support and circulation, as well as budgetary and safety concerns. His work supports daily operations across the system and reflects a career dedicated to expanding access to information and technology for the Anaheim community.

Formative Years of Public Service

"I've always enjoyed helping people," Mr. Edelblute says. "When I was in high school, I did volunteer work first in hospitals and later in the libraries." This memory traces his commitment to public service to his youth. More recently, he has been assisting patrons at the reference desk. One night, he helped a job seeker upload documents to an unemployment website. It was rewarding for him to help someone improve their life.

Mr. Edelblute's sense of purpose has guided his career since early roles, including serving as a library assistant at the University of Missouri-Columbia from 1990 to 1993. He later worked as an acquisitions technician and systems librarian at United States International University before joining the Anaheim Public Library in 1998 as a reference and technology librarian. From 2000 to 2010, he also served part-time as a reference librarian at Downey City Library.

Public Computer Lab as a Milestone

Among Mr. Edelblute's most significant achievements was helping secure a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the first public computer lab at Anaheim Central Library. The initial lab included 10 computers and marked the beginning of expanded technology services throughout the system.

Mr. Edelblute later played a leading role in the Haskett Branch renovation project from 2005 to 2006. The original 7,000-square-foot building was demolished and replaced with a 24,000-square-foot facility. As the technology lead, he planned the placement of electrical and cable outlets to accommodate future needs. He considers the project a career highlight because it anticipated long-term changes in furniture layouts and digital infrastructure.

When 3D printing technology emerged, Mr. Edelblute initially questioned its fit in a public library setting. "I was at a point at that time where I said, ‘It's not appropriate to bring it into the library because it looks to me like it's a solution in search of a problem,'" he says. However, after staff members demonstrated its potential, he embraced the idea. A Makerspace at the Haskett Branch now includes 3D printers, laser cutters and sewing machines to help patrons build design and manufacturing skills.

Inclusive Events Reflect Local Diversity

"Anaheim Public Library is very community-focused," Mr. Edelblute says. The library partners with local organizations for reading initiatives and hosts educational programming for seniors, families and cultural celebrations. Events have included a winter reading program with P.F. Chang's, a workshop on Alzheimer's, Hispanic Heritage Month activities, Black History Month programs, a K-pop event and a horror literature convention titled "Spinal Dread."

Mr. Edelblute believes leadership requires both inspiration and accountability. "Leaders inspire people to follow them, and managers work out the details of how to run a project," he says. "And I have to be both." In addressing personnel challenges, he focuses on behavior and improvement plans rather than personal criticism.

Academics, Mentorship and Teamwork

Mr. Edelblute holds a Master of Arts in library and information science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Arts in international relations from the United States International University in San Diego. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of San Diego. His professional memberships include the American Library Association, the California Library Association and the International Federation of Library Associations.

Mr. Edelblute attributes his success to the exceptional support he has received from colleagues and mentors. Within the next decade, he plans to continue mentoring emerging staff. "It's all about teamwork," he says. "Because I could not do what I do without the team around me."

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SOURCE: Marquis Who's Who