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FRIENDS OF THE HOMER LIBRARY


Our mission is to provide support for the Homer Public Library programs and services,

to raise funds that enrich the library experience, and to promote the use and enjoyment of the library.


Staff & Board

Friends of the Homer Library is led by a volunteer board of directors including the Homer Public Library’s director. Each February, directors are elected on a staggered schedule at the Annual meeting along with the board’s officers which are elected annually.

Each member joined the FHL board for a different reason.


FHL Coordinator

Cheryl Illg enjoyed working in a local elementary school library for several years, connecting kids with books and helping to create everyone's favorite place to be.  She is grateful to be raising a daughter with all the amazing library services and programs available. Her family started out attending preschool story hour, always love checking out new books in the beautiful library and now look forward to the various classes offered throughout the year.  Cheryl is delighted to be the new FHL Coordinator,  working with a team of inspiring folks who are committed to supporting these programs and activities that our community love and value.

BOARD MEMBERS


Lyn Maslow, a retired elementary school teacher, loves serving on the board of FHL because she can help create and support the fabulous programs FHL and HPL staff offer, especially the youth programs.  For her, it's an honor to support our library, the heart and soul of our community where every patron is welcome, regardless of background, and where literacy and lifelong learning is the common denominator.  She currently serves as vice president.


Dave Berry is the director of Homer Public Library. He has worked in a wide variety of libraries in different states and considers Homer Public Library to be the cream of the crop. He is right.


Judy Gonsalves, a retired Elementary Educator and Speech Language Pathologist, is currently Board Secretary.   She has always been a lover of books and libraries, making it a point to check out the public libraries in towns she visits during travels. She happens to think that HPL is one of the crown jewels of Homer.


Ann Dixon moved to Homer in 2011 because of the Homer Public Library. When she first walked into HPL for a job interview, she knew immediately that she wanted to work there and live in a community that envisioned and supported such a wonderful library. She is happy to rejoin the board after retiring in 2019 from serving as director of HPL. A lifelong reader, library nerd, and writer, she especially enjoys volunteering with the bookmobile, reading and writing with kids, and fostering opportunities for lifelong learning.


 Lin Hampson received one of the most thrilling phone calls when she was invited to serve on the FHL board.
She is interested in assisting with established activities like the biannual book and plant sale and helping to start new activities for her favorite target audience--teenagers.  After working with high school students for thirty plus years, she has lots of ideas for this age group.


Sara Reinert loves books and the written word, and always thought being a librarian would be a cool job. Joining the FHL Board allows her to help promote literacy and at the same time hobnob with awesome library folks.


Joy Steward is retired from a 32-year career working in Homer's vibrant nonprofit sector. Her memories of the Homer Public Library from the early 80's include coming in the front door of the old Pioneer Avenue library and having to step around a circle of youngsters participating in the weekly preschool story hour. Fast forward to today where we have the most awesome state-of-the art library with incredible staff, and where the children have their very own space, large enough to host a myriad of programs to inspire, engage and entertain young readers.  Joy loves this library, and she loves the community’s commitment to supporting the library. She sees the Friends of the Homer Public Library as an essential partner in ensuring the best possible library experience for all, and is very excited to join the board and work with this amazing group of committed volunteers.


Sarah Brewer is a recent transplant to Homer, but has bounced around Alaska most of her life. Some of her most magical memories from childhood are walking through the stacks of the libraries, endless worlds and friends at her fingertips. She believes public libraries are at the very core and essence of intellectual freedom, necessary for a thriving democracy. She holds an M.Ed in Elementary Education, and is passionate about Shakespeare and Dickens and Paddington. Her children believe her to be the real Mary Poppins, but before you think that's all roses, read the book.


Linda Robinson is a retired Outreach Coordinator for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (RCAC).  RCAC afforded her the opportunity to visit all the communities In Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak.  She started in Alaska in 1982 when her family moved to Dillingham.  She worked for Southwest Region Schools and created a reading group named the Women’s Reading Group and Terrorist Society.  The next 23 years were spent in Anchorage and then south to Funny River Road and Homer.  She enjoys volunteering on non-profit boards and joined the Bunnell Street Art Gallery board of directors in 2015. She is currently on the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve (KBRR) community council, and volunteers for Homer Council on the Arts.  She is proud to be part of Friends of the Homer Library, which supports such a wonderful library in a wonderful town.


Shellie Worsfold is a retired elementary school teacher and reading specialist who believes education is a human right. Since retiring in 2019, she works part-time with Project Grad Kenai Peninsula as an after-school site coordinator and academic coach with southern peninsula’s more remote schools. She is honored to now serve with the FHL board to support literacy for everyone, connect with community, and especially to engage with youth and excellent books at BOB the book mobile. Shellie has two amazing (now grown) children, enjoys spending time with her three dogs, playing games & puzzles with her husband, and reading!

Would you like to join the board?  We are always looking for new members. 

Contact us at info@friendshomerlibrary.org


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FRIENDS OF THE HOMER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Friends of the Homer Library is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 community organization.

907-435-3195

info@friendshomerlibrary.org

500 Hazel Avenue • Homer AK  99603
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