Lexington resident and nonprofit leader named executive director of Cary Library Foundation Board

Mary Ann Sorel, a lawyer from New York, traded her legal cap for a career leading nonprofits when she moved her family to Lexington 17 years ago. 

Her newest venture lands her in the heart of her community. Sorel was named executive director of the Cary Library Foundation Board, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the mission of Cary Library, at the end of April. 

“The Lexington community really just loves their library and shows up, which is a wonderful thing,” Sorel told the Observer. “I’m happy to contribute what I can to see the library flourish.”

A graduate of Brown University and the University of Michigan Law School, Sorel spent much of her professional life working in corporate law in New York. 

When she moved to Massachusetts, she pivoted from law to serving on the Board of the International School of Boston, a private bilingual (French-English) school in Cambridge, where her two older children were enrolled. She also became president of Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers, a social group for new residents to meet their neighbors. Sorel later joined the board of the Community Endowment of Lexington, which awards grants to nonprofits and town agencies and provides ways for donors to give back. 

The library’s foundation, which kickstarted in 1999 by the Trustees of Cary Library, is the official organization that accepts private donations to fund programming and capital plans. Sorel explained that taxes cover the library’s basic needs, but the various programs Cary offers are made possible by donors. As the executive director of the library’s board, which is a part-time paid position, Sorel will spearhead the “big annual appeal,” which is when the board asks the community for donations. 

“As they like to say, the lights are on and the staff is paid, but to have the extras, you need to raise money, so that’s what the foundation is for,” she said.

The library’s diverse catalog of programming helps it progress with the town, Sorel explained. Cary has hosted lectures given by authors, cultural events, StoryWalk, an interactive reading and trail walking experience, and more. Next week alone, the library will host a lecture on how to invest sustainably with Leslie Samuelrich, President of Green Century Funds, and how to declutter a decade’s worth of stuff with expert organizer, Jamie Novak. 

“[Cary Library] caters [to] and has evolved with the town as it has evolved and changed,” Sorel noted. 

The library will soon open its new children’s and teen space. That project, known as ChiRP, was long led by former executive director of the library’s board, Mary Ellen Ringo, and is now passed onto Sorel. The new space will include a teaching kitchen for cooking and science programming, a maker space for STEM programming, and new audio-visual, or AV, equipment for improved hybrid programming. 

“I’m excited to be part of this and to learn,” Sorel said. “I’ve been really embraced by the board and by the library staff and it’s just been a really pleasant experience so far.”