PROVIDENCE — The Providence Community Library, the nonprofit organization that this month took over the city’s branch library system, has named Ann Robinson, former associate director of the Worcester Public Library system, as its new director.

Robinson was chosen after a national search. She was among three finalists who met with the PCL’s search committee and executive board, PCL staff and the public last month.

The other two were Donna Riegal, director of the North Palm Beach (Fla.) Library and Ophelia Gregiev Roop, director of the San Bernardino (Calif.) Library. A fourth finalist, Nancy Lee Milnor, director of the Somerville (Mass.) Public Library, withdrew her name from consideration midway through the final selection process.

“We were really surprised that someone locally could be such a good fit, even after a national search,” said Patricia Raub, a member of the PCL executive board.

Robinson, whose salary was not disclosed by the library organization, will start work on Monday. The PCL has said the position would pay $80,000 to $100,000 a year.

Robinson has spent the last 22 years in various positions in Massachusetts library systems. She served for eight years as associate director in Worcester from 2001 until earlier this year.

Before that, she was director at the Marlborough Public Library; superintendent of reference services at the Framingham Public Library; library director at the Plainville Public Library, and library director at the Bancroft Public Library, in Salem.

Raub, of the PCL, said that the board was most impressed by Robinson’s knowledge and experience with different aspects of the library and how she described her management style. “She seems like the kind of person that reaches out to people. I think she would be a very good listener,” said Raub.

During a public presentation, Raub said, Robinson talked about how she would tailor branch libraries to the specific needs of the neighborhoods they serve.

Robinson holds a master’s degree in library and informational science from Simmons College, in Boston, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Clark University, in Worcester.

pmarcelo@projo.com