Arlington City Council appoints library board members

ARLINGTON — Crystal King knows the importance of libraries — after all, she’s a graduate student.

The Arlington resident, who is currently studying for her master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was one of three community members selected to fill open vacancies on the Library Board.

On Tuesday, July 6, the City Council appointed King, as well as applicants Kelly Penny and Mandy Ingram, to the five-person Board.

Board members, whose primary role is to help guide the Mayor and the City Council on decisions relating to planning, management, use and care of library issues and facilities, meet quarterly and serve five-year terms.

The Board has had the three open positions since April.

King, who has lived in Arlington for about 10 years, said that she decided to apply for the Board because she thinks Arlington needs a larger library.

“I don’t think the public understands how big of a deal the library is,” she said. “We’ve got to get a different approach (in getting funding). Whatever we’ve been doing hasn’t been working.”

Voters have rejected paying for a new library in Arlington three times in the past 10 years, most recently in 2008.

“I would like to see some private individuals step up — there’s lots of ways we could partner with them,” she said.

Penny said she wanted to join the Board because she loves giving back to the community in which she lives.

Penny is the community relations director for Cascade Valley Hospital, the coordinator for the Fourth of July Grand and Kiddies parades, and a member of both the hospital foundation and the 2010 Emergency Medical Services levy’s steering committee.

Penny said that she has been making use of the library with her daughter since she was a toddler.

“I’m excited to be appointed to the Arlington Public Library Board because I think it’s an important part of our community,” she said. “I hope that we will be able to set goals and assist in planning for future growth of the library.”

Ingram said she wanted to join the Board so that she could be part of the city.

Originally from Illinois, Ingram said she wants her two young boys to have a good library to go to once they begin school.

“It’s important for people to be able to have that a library for reference,” she said. “It doesn’t how matter how technical (your education) may get, everybody will always need the library.”

Contact Arlington Times Reporter Adam Rudnick at arudnick@arlingtontimes.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5056.

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