David M. Price

David M. Price, who, as state librarian of West Virginia, led a highly successful initiative in the 1990s to provide free public computers and internet access in libraries, died June 26, 2023, in Georgetown, Texas. He was 80 years old. 

Price worked for more than 40 years in city management and library administration in Texas, Colorado, California and West Virginia. Among his positions, Price was assistant state librarian in California, director of the Sonoma County (California) Library System, deputy city manager in Aurora, Colorado, and Burnett County Library System director. After retiring from public service, Price founded Averus Corporation Library Consulting, which managed library projects. 

Price was born in Corpus Christi and graduated from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas. He earned a Master of Library Science from North Texas University in Denton and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. 

Price recognized that libraries could play a larger role in their communities by providing free public access to computers and Internet. Nowhere was the need greater than in West Virginia where only 17 percent of the households had Internet service when Price became State Librarian.  With a grant from the Gates Library Foundation, the Statewide Library Network installed free public Internet and computers in 100 percent of its public library systems. 

He is survived by his wife, Sherry, of Georgetown; a brother, Larry C. Price, of Dayton, OH; and nieces and nephews.