Ernest Angstadt, Maxatawny Township; Barbara Coffin, Greenwich Township; and Lucy Muth, Albany Township, have been named to the Kutztown Community Library Board. Their three-year terms end in 2020.
“We are looking forward to what Lucy, Barbara, and Ernest will bring to the board. Having new members keeps our board from becoming stale. We are excited to see how they will use their unique skill sets to promote the mission of the library,” said Library Board President Cathy Ruhf, Kutztown.
In addition to Ruhf, current board members are Vice President Mary Laub, Maxatawny, term ending 2018; Secretary Randi DeAngelo, Greenwich Township, term ending 2018; Treasurer Martin Smith, Kutztown, term ending 2018; Corresponding Secretary Joanne Yoder, Kutztown, term ending 2019; and Doreen Behney, Lyons, term ending in 2019.
“The Trustees are an eclectic group of people from various backgrounds with different skills. Each member brings something different to the board table. We share a common passion for the work of the library,” said Ruhf. “The board is tasked with overseeing the operation of the library. We do fundraising and make sure that the funds entrusted to us are used to benefit the community. We assist and advise the library director in her role.”
Currently, Library Board members are in the process of fundraising for a new HVAC system.
“The current one is outdated and needs to be replaced to ensure we can provide uninterrupted services to the community. This is going to take up a lot of our energy this year,” she said.
As the board president, Ruhf said she is excited about 2017.
“The Library is in a good place currently, having recently transitioned the youth librarian position from part time to full time. We have a good staff which is always eager to help patrons,” said Ruhf.
New board members are named after a term expires. The Library Board must have board members from each municipality the library represents.
“We look for people who love the library and are community-minded individuals,” said Ruhf.
The Board’s Nomination Committee recruits new members.
“The committee, under the advisement of the library director, creates a list of potential board members. They begin reaching out to the candidates, sharing information about the board and what the position entails. Once the committee has the necessary number of candidates, they will present the roster to the board. The board will then vote to approve the new members,” said Ruhf.
Kutztown Community Library Director Janet Yost explained that the Library Board members serve as a liaison between the municipality they serve and the library.
“Sometimes you look for certain skills. It used to be the old thought was you looked for a lawyer, a banker,” said Yost. “Now, the new thought is someone who truly loves libraries. That’s something we’ve been doing for the last couple of nominations. It’s turned out wonderfully.”
Yost said the Library Board’s role is to advise the library, to make sure it is financially sound, to advocate for the library within their municipality as well as in the broader community. The position is on a volunteer basis and is for a three-year term. There are nine board members.
“We have a good group here. It’s a wonderful thing that they’re doing for the library and for the community,” said Yost. “It’s a good volunteer position.”
“We will continue to seek out ways to make sure the library is serving as many people in our community as possible,” said Ruhf.
