For more than 15 years Ethan has worked in libraries and for more than a dozen years he has led library departments. What inspires him most about being a librarian are the opportunities to foster and nurture informed, inquisitive communities, where everyone has equitable access to resources and services they desire. His goal is to make libraries into inclusive spaces for the community to learn, grow and connect. His experience, including 6 years as an IT professional and one year as a systems librarian, has allowed him to effectively work with both digital and physical resources to make his goals a reality. To stay current with the field, he serves on the board of the California Academic & Research Library Association and is Chair of the association's mentorship program.  From 2019-2022, he led successful efforts to bring technology and library services to a college that educates students incarcerated in San Quentin Prison. He has presented on his work at national conferences. As a volunteer he has worked with prisoners, the homeless, unemployed people, children needing tutoring, teaching Hebrew and registering voters.

In addition to a master's degree in library science from University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill, he has a BA in English literature with a minor in biology from Earlham College.  He also studied to be a rabbi for three years at Hebrew Union College but decided not to complete his rabbinic studies.  For fun he hikes, reads, attends authors' events and travels.  He is a member of a contemporary literature book group and a neuroscience book group.