Rob Harrington Elected Chair of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Robert E. Harrington has been elected chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's board of trustees. His two-year term begins July 1.

"Rob comes into the chair position having already made significant contributions to the Library's finance, governance and real estate activities," said CEO Lee Keesler. "His personal connections and involvement in our community are an asset to the organization and complement the Library's emerging role as 'public commons' for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Rob will be the latest in a long line of remarkable Library leaders."

Harrington has been a library board member since his appointment by the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners in 2013, and he recently served a term as vice chair before becoming chair. The library system's board of trustees governs Charlotte-Mecklenburg's 22-branch system, advises the library's CEO and serves as principal advocate for the system.

Harrington currently serves as chair of the Arts and Science Council's board of directors, with his term ending June 30. His extensive involvement in the Charlotte community and across North Carolina includes membership on the governing boards of the North Carolina Bar Association, Legal Aid of North Carolina and TreesCharlotte. He also serves on the Duke Law School board of visitors and the advancement council of the UNC Press. Harrington previously served as chair of the Levine Museum of the New South's board of directors, president of the Mecklenburg County Bar and co-chair of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Harrington is a business litigator at Robinson Bradshaw and chairs the firm's Litigation Department. Over his nearly 30-year career, he has represented corporate clients and financial institutions in a broad range of complex business disputes, including contract, trade practice, consumer lending and other business matters.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America's leading urban public libraries, serving more than one million citizens with a mission to improve lives and build a stronger community.