By Bruce Flanders, Lawrence Public Library Director
We are extraordinarily proud to announce that all seven trustees of the Lawrence Public Library have completed continuing education requirements for certification in the Kansas Library Trustee Certification Program. This significant achievement fulfills a 2009 goal for our library, and was accomplished primarily through continuing education training sessions held during regular library board meetings from April through August. The five Core Skill areas were covered during these months, with training provided by these outstanding Kansas librarians: Laura DeBaun (Library Services Consultant, NEKLS), Joe McKenzie (Director, Salina Public Library), Donna Lauffer (County Librarian, Johnson County Library System), Emily Baker (Director, Olathe Public Library) and Mickey Coalwell (Library Development Consultant, NEKLS).
The Lawrence Public Library Board includes:
Christopher F. Burger, Library Board Chair, is a partner with the law firm of Stevens & Brand, specializing in construction law. He also serves with the Lawrence Public Library Foundation, Downtown Lawrence Inc., Cub Scout Pack 3067, Rotary, Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and other organizations and causes for the betterment of the growing Lawrence community.
Christopher Burger
Michael Machell, Library Board Vice Chair, is a Human Resources Director for Prescription Solutions, a national mail order pharmacy business, with responsibility over 1500 employees in California and Kansas. He is a 2008 Leadership Lawrence graduate, an avid fan of historical miniatures wargaming, and enjoys travel, reading history and being active in the community. Michael and his wife have a high school daughter who has volunteered at the Lawrence Public Library.
Michael Machell
Joan Golden, Library Board Secretary-Treasurer, has been employeed with U.S. Bank for 25 years, and has served in leadership positions on various community boards of directors such as the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, United Way of Douglas County, and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. Joan and her husband raised two daughters utilizing the Lawrence Public Library.
Joan Golden
Fran Devlin, Library Board Trustee, is the Head of Library Research Services and Librarian for French and Italian Literature at the University of Kansas Libraries. She received her Master of Library Science from the University of Western Ontario. She enjoys spending time with family and singing with the Lawrence Civic Choir.
Fran Devlin
Terry Leibold, Library Board Trustee, is an attorney in, and member of, the law firm of Barber Emerson, where he practices primarily in real estate and real estate litigation. He worked as a District Judge Pro Tem for the District Court of Douglas County, and received the 2004 Kansas Bar Association award for most outstanding young lawyer in the State of Kansas. His mother-in-law is a public library director in Missouri. Terry enjoys time with family, reading and KU basketball and football games.
Terry Leibold
Kent Spreckelmeyer, Library Board Trustee, is a professor in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Kansas and maintains a consulting practice in achitectural research and programming. He was awarded a 2009 Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching at KU. His wife is the Associate Director of the Humanities and Western Civilization Program at KU and holds an MLS from the University of Michigan. Their middle school daughter has been a dedicated user of the Lawrence Public Library.
Kent Spreckelmeyer
Deborah D. Thompson, Library Board Trustee, is the Vice President of Human Resources at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, responsible for recruitment, benefits, compensation, employee relations and organizational development. She holds Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification. A Kansas native, she worked at Johnson County Library as a page during high school. Her hobbies are reading and sewing.
Deborah Thompson