[contains material from press releases] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
From cataloguing articles to writing and editing them: The Chief Librarian and Director of Information Services at the American Philatelic Research Library, Scott Tiffney, is leaving the APRL to become an editor at Linn’s Stamps News, Scott Stamp Monthly and the Scott postage stamp catalogues, all published by Amos Media in Sidney, Ohio. Denise MCarty is managing editor at present.

Replacing Tiffney at APRL will be Marian Mills, currently the Library Technical Services Manager. [Her photo is below.] The changes take effect April 1.

“I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of continuing to contribute to the philatelic community in my new role with Amos Media,” Tiffney said in a story on the Linn’s website.

“For years, Scott has been the face, heart, and soul of the library. Under his leadership, we’ve experienced a transformation from solely brick and mortar to a worldwide philatelic resource,” said Scott English, Executive Director of the APS. “He’s embodied the members’ first mission of the APS and APRL, and he will be missed.”

In addition to his duties running the Library, Tiffney also wrote columns for American Philatelist, the American Philatelic Society’s journal, and the APRL’s Philatelic Literature Review, as well as columns for La Posta and the ASDA journal. He has also written articles silent film and library science publications.

Still, Tiffney admitted in an email interview with The Virtual Stammp Club, the switch from librarian to editor/writer will be challenging. “I welcome the opportunity in this new role to remain in the hobby while using the knowledge that I’ve gained at the APRL regarding philatelic writing and research,” he wrote. Still, “the difference between the two occupations is not as vast as one would imagine” because both involve critical thinking and presenting information to the public.

Tiffney started at the APRL as a volunteer in 2010 and joined the library staff full-time in October 2012 as the Library Research Assistant. He became the Librarian and Director of Information Services in January 2018. [We interviewed him then. Read or listen to the feature here.] Since taking over the position, Tiffney has led the growth of the Robert A. Mason Digital Library, which now hosts more than 8,700 journal issues and is growing.

“My time at the APRL has been some of the most rewarding in my professional career,” he said in the APS announcement. In his email, he added, “The decision to leave the APS/APRL was a difficult one. I’ve learned so much about the philately and those in the hobby in my nearly 14 years at the APRL, but the opportunity to try something new and still stay in the hobby was an exciting option for me. The work will definitely be different from the work I’ve done in libraries for most of my career, but at this point I was looking to explore something outside of my immediate comfort zone in order to see what else I could contribute to philately.”

He may not be moving to the Sidney, Ohio, area where Amos is located. “One of the aspects of the position that appealed to me the most was that the majority of the duties could be done remotely,” he told VSC. “I’m sure there will be times when I may need to be in Sidney, but the majority of the position can and will be done remotely which will enable me to continue to use the resources of the APRL in my new role.”

However, the real burning question from this career move is “Who will be doing the public address announcements at Great American Stamp Show?”

“That’s a great question. Auditions will be happening shortly,” Scott replied. “All kidding aside, I found going to shows like GASS and especially smaller shows one of the truly special perks in working here. It was always a treat meeting members and others in the hobby and hearing their stamp stories.”

Mills joined the APRL in December 2017, replacing Tiffney as Library Research Assistant. She received a B.S. in Library Sciences from Clarion University in 2012 and a Masters in Library and Information Sciences from Simmons University in 2017. In February 2020, the APS promoted Mills to Library Technical Services Manager, where she took over day-to-day management of the Mason Digital Library, the David Straight Memorial Philatelic Union Catalog, the APS/APRL archives, and donations of philatelic literature.

“I am honored to continue the work of the staff, Scott Tiffney, and my predecessors in making the library more accessible to our membership and researchers from around the world. In my previous positions in the library, I have been fortunate to have worked with some wonderful people: library staff, the membership, board members, and other philatelic librarians,” added Mills. “I look forward to renewing those relationships and creating new relationships as I move into this new role in the library.”

Mills is currently on maternity leave after she and her husband, Aaron Myers, welcomed their first son, Ellis, in November. She will return on March 1, 2024, to transition to her new position in April.