Thank you, Mary!
Mary has retired from the board after many years of service, including the hard work of grant writing. We look forward to seeing her around the library, enjoying the fruits of her labor.
The Library’s Board of Directors
The Keizer Community Library has an active and passionate all-volunteer, working Board of Directors. All share a passion for the library and a commitment to its support. Board Officer positions are held for a one year term, while there are no term requirements for the general Board of Directors.
Contact the Board via email at info@keizerlibrary.org.
Board Officers
President: Bill Leach
After a long career managing schools and other public facilities, including the Oregon State Capitol building and Clackamas Community College, Bill retired to become an award-winning fine art photographer and grandfather of four.
Favorite Quote: “The two best days of your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
Little Known Fact: Bill is a Vietnam combat veteran.
Treasurer: John Goodyear
John has 35 years as a manager and director of library systems from Indiana to Arizona to Oregon. He retired from Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service in 2020.
Vice President: BJ Toewe
BJ retired from 39 years as a youth services librarian and director of Salem Public Library but still feels passionate about the value that a public library brings to its community.
Secretary: Chris Melquist
After a successful career in sales and keeping top executives on track, Chris now volunteers at three different non-profits and actively supports a fourth.
Favorite Quote: “Remember, I’m pulling for ya. We’re all in this together!” – Red Green
Little Known Fact: Chris has spent almost equal amounts of her life in Maine and the Pacific NW. She jokingly refers to herself as “being bi-coastal”.
Board of Directors
Kris Adams
Have lived in Keizer since 1964 and have loved the small town feel.
I have spent the years working in retail management and volunteering for numerous organizations including the Keizer Community Library.
Favorite Quote: “‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-‘ ‘Sir?’ ‘-until you climb into his skin and walk around it.'”
Little Known Fact: A bucket list item is to dig for sunstones in southeastern Oregon at Spectrum Sunstone Mine in Plush.
Johanna Allen
Johanna has been a member of the Keizer community since 2018. Although she grew up in the rural south, she loves the small town feel that Keizer offers it’s visitors and people who live here. She has a 7 year old son (her pride and joy) and together they love frequenting Keizer’s many parks and local restaurants. Johanna works within the Restoration Industry at SERVPRO of Salem West, and is also a member of the Keizer Network of Women (K.N.O.W.).
Favorite Quote: “If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all.” ― Audrey Hepburn
Little Known Fact: Johanna grew up looking forward to library visits like kids look forward to Santa Claus coming to town, it was a huge deal for her and her 5 siblings to load up in the old station wagon and drive 30 minutes to the nearest library, where she could get lost in all the adventures that awaited her outside of her little southern county.
Irma Dash
Fatima Falcon
Fatima graduated from McNary High School in 2016 and decided to come back to her roots here in Keizer after graduating from Lindfield University in 2020. She is very passionate about supporting first-generation Latinas like herself to pursue higher education and felt like her values aligned perfectly with our wonderful KCL.
Favorite Quote: “We are defined by what we chose to reject. And if we reject nothing, we essentially have no identity at all” – Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck
Olga Gloria
Elaine Goff
Elaine has a B.S. in Information Technology and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. She has been working in libraries since 2004 and has enjoyed living in the Salem/Keizer area for more than 30 years. In her free time Elaine enjoys activities with her partner such as hiking, vegetable gardening, and entertaining their three cats.
Erma Garrison
Paula Guiles
Paula has a lifetime of experience in education, including children with special needs, including those with hearing impairment, autism and learning difficulties. Her specialized training is teaching reading and language arts strengthens her understanding and love of libraries and the services they provide. She enjoys meeting visitors and patrons and loves to tell stories about their experiences in the library.
Betty Hart
Volunteering in the community is part of Betty’s DNA. Besides joining the Keizer Community Library Board, she also serves on the Keizer Fire District Board of Directors. She also serves on boards and committees of other non-profits serving the Keizer-Salem communities. She is retired from Northwest Human Services where she served as the CFO.
Libby Seil
Always an avid reader with a lively imagination, Libby pursued a career in Archaeology, working in California, Arizona, and Greece. When marriage & family put an end to fieldwork, Libby became a part-time Anthropology instructor at a local community college. She is now enjoying a new career in Real Estate.
Favorite Quotes: “We have met the enemy, and He is Us.” – Pog
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Lyndon Zaitz
Lyndon is the publisher of the Keizertimes, the community weekly newspaper in Keizer. He is now and has been a member of many community organizations including: Keizer Chamber of Commerce and Keizer Community Library.
Favorite Quote: “My last square meal was a saltine”. – Joe Keenan
Little Known Fact: Two houses and two schools Lyndon attended in Salem/Keizer in the 1960’s no longer exist.
Library Managers
Vicki Brammeier
During her career, Vicki managed information technology at the Oregon State Capitol, Department of Corrections and Marion County Health Department. She retired to enjoy her ten grandchildren and develop her quilting skills.
Favorite Quote: “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx
Little Known Fact: Vicki’s father was an FBI agent who worked on the DB Cooper case.
Clara Lipetzky
In addition to her work with the Keizer Community Library, Clara works as a library media assistant at an elementary school in Salem and as the office manager for Children’s Educational Theater. Her favorite things include dancing, cuddling with her cat, traveling, and of course, reading!
Favorite Quote: “With freedom, flowers, books and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?” – Oscar Wilde
Little Known Fact: Clara spent two winters living in Viesques, Puerto Rico, and her cat is adopted from there!
Board Meetings
The Library Board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Board meetings are open to the public. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact us at (503) 390-2370.
*Our April 2022 meeting will be on 4/7
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