NIAGARA FALLS—Former School Superintendent Carmen A. Granto is the newest member of the Niagara Falls Library board of trustees.

Granto, who was sworn in Tuesday, was appointed by the board to fill the unexpired term of Lisa Routhier. His term on the five-member board expires Dec. 31. He retired as head of Niagara Falls schools at the end of 2008.

“I always believed in and worked with the library for years,” Granto said Wednesday. “I just think it’s a critical piece of the Niagara Falls community.”

Library trustees are typically appointed by the mayor, but seats can be filled by the board if a trustee leaves before his or her term expires.

Routhier resigned from the board because of work commitments, said Library Director Betty Babanoury.

The board earlier this month named attorney Robert Restaino to another vacant seat formerly filled by Frank Roma.