2025 Board Members Terms Expiring December 31, 2025

2025 President Term Expiring December 31, 2025.

© All images Friends of Kentucky Libraries, 2025 – all rights reserved

Louise Canter grew up in Central New York and moved to Northern Kentucky over thirty years. She received her BS and MLS at the State University of New York College at Geneseo. Louise was a Middle School librarian for several years. Moving with her husband for his career, cut short her days in the school library, but not her love for libraries! Living in Palo Alto, CA, Cincinnati, OH, Fresno, CA, Tacoma, WA and Memphis, TN, Louise always found the local branch of the public library and was an avid user. While in Tacoma, Washington, Louise served on the Board of Trustees of the Pierce County Library System. Arriving in Kenton County Kentucky several years later, Louise once again got involved with her local library. She served on the Kenton County Public Library Foundation Board for several years and then eight years on the Kenton County Board of Trustees. Louise also served a term as a member of the Kentucky State Board of Certification for Public Libraries. She has been a lifelong friend of libraries…..growing up three doors from her hometown library! She is a proud member of the Kenton County Public Library Friends and the Friends of Kentucky Libraries. Louise and her husband, Eric, live in Erlanger, Kentucky. 2nd Term Expires December 31, 2026.

Patti Jensen – Vice President – 1st term expires 12/31/2026:

As a native of northern Wisconsin, I grew up in an environment where libraries were a rare luxury. Access to the bookmobile was inconsistent, and the few books we owned were deeply cherished in our home—a sentiment that persists to this day.
Although my formal education may be limited, I have compensated for this through a diverse range of experiences and an enduring passion for libraries and reading. My transitions from rural northern Wisconsin to Westminster, CO, and subsequently to Montrose, CO, before settling in Liberty, KY, have significantly enhanced my managerial skills. These moves have also fostered my ability to assist others in launching businesses, whether they are multimillion-dollar enterprises or small, local ventures. My husband and I have also owned businesses ourselves.
It has been a privilege to engage with, work at, and volunteer for our local library in Liberty since our arrival in 2011. I began my involvement with the Friends of the Library chapter six years ago, where my initial responsibilities included organizing the annex that houses our book sales. In the absence of the secretary, I would also take minutes and manage the book sales when no other volunteers were available. During this period, I envisioned the potential of our Friends chapter, though it remained somewhat stagnant.

In 2020, amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19, I assumed complete responsibility for the bookstore, ensuring it remained open for sales twice a month. This marked the beginning of my recruitment efforts. By 2021, with a newly elected board, our Friends chapter experienced remarkable growth, increasing membership from 47 to 132 within a single year. We compiled a comprehensive list of volunteers for both the library and our Friends chapter, and I am pleased to report that our organization is now active and thriving, thanks to the dedication of our new board members and the support of our membership.

Since 2021, I have served as the Treasurer for our Friends chapter, and as of 2024, I have been writing columns for our local newspaper to inform the community about the contributions of our Friends chapter to both the library and the broader community.

Simon Boes – Treasurer. Simon manages the Lexington County Public Libraries’ Friends Book Cellar. 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Patty Jones – Secretary. Kenton County. 1st Term expires 12/31/2026

Barbara Brand – Friends of the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library, Barren County. 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Jill Hoskins – Spencer county. 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Becky Knistern – Kenton County . 1st term expires 12/31/2026.

Kathy Svoboda grew up in Providence, Kentucky and attended Madisonville Community College receiving an associate degree in applied science nursing. After passing the state boards began her nursing career in the Emergency Room at Hopkins County Hospital in Madisonville. After gaining some experience she moved to Lexington, KY to work in the University of Kentucky Emergency Department before moving back to a Madisonville to become the Nurse Recruiter for Regional Medical Center eventually recruiting all health professionals. During this time, she met her husband, John. 
In 1991, their daughter was born. In 1993 when they relocated to Princeton due to her husband’s employment. She became a stay-at -home mom and developed a passion for volunteering. One of her first experiences was. with adult education helping adults learn to read. Shortly after she began an article appeared in the local paper that the library wanted to start a Friends of the Library Chapter. She went to the meeting and became a charter member. She has served in several offices in the chapter including president. Currently, serving on the Friends of the George Coon Public Library board of directors. She previously served on the   board of trustees for the George Coon Public Library/Adsmore House and Gardens.
She is an active member of the Princeton First Christian Church and volunteers in various community programs and projects. She is honored to be serving on the Kentucky Friends of the Library Board of Directors and looks forward to becoming more involved with other chapters and in helping new chapters develop. 1st term expires 12/31/2026.

Lisa Rice – Warren County. 1st term expires 12/31/2026.

Catherine grew up in Bay Village, Ohio, where she made liberal use of the library – a part of the metropolitan Cleveland system – for 18 years. She settled in London, KY, in 1973, after time on Guam and in Long Beach, Norfolk, and then in Lexington KY. She’s been active in the London library for over 50 years, and has rotated on and off of the Friends of the Library Board for many of those years. Retired now, she taught English, communications, and education courses at Sue Bennett College for around 18 years, transition into High School English in 1995 – first in the private system and then at South laurel High School. Since then she has been wrting a column for the Sentinel-Echo, titled “I Was Just Thinking”, which she loves doing because it helps to keep her skills sharp. Sometimes, those columns relate to banning books, and her love of reading. 1st term expires 12/31/2026.

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Paula Franklin received her BS and MS degrees from Murray State University. She taught high school chemistry and physics for 33.5 years in the same school system in Southern Illinois. After retiring, Paula worked for three years at the Challenger Learning Center on the campus of WKCTC in Paducah. With more free time, she was able to become more active in the local Friends of McCracken County Public Library. Paula served on the Friends BOD before serving as Vice-President/President Elect. She is currently finishing her term as the Friends BOD President. 2nd term expires 12/31/2025

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Rose Booth is a native New Yorker who relocated via California to Kentucky in 2007 after retiring from St Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley, California. She has 2 children, a daughter Rosie who lives in Horse Cave, Kentucky and a son, Rocco, daughter in law, Rachel and 3 grandchildren, Hayes, Lincoln and Ellie, who live in Carlsbad, California. Genealogy brought her to Kentucky. She has a cousin in Lexington, Kentucky and they are both heavily into genealogy and family history. After moving to Leitchfield, Kentucky, she got involved with many local organizations and was even made a Kentucky Colonel. She was Big Sister of the year for Big Brothers and Sisters of Kentuckiana, and received a Governor’s Citation from Gov. Brashear. She was Homemaker of the Year for 2021. She is President of The Friends of The Library for The Grayson County Public Library and is also on the State Board. She has moderated the book club for the library since 2008. She is Recording Secretary for the Grayson County Historical Society and also Recording Secretary for the Grayson County Homemakers Council. She received an award from the Department of Defense for her chapter’s involvement in the 50th Anniversary of Vietnam. In 2013 she became the organizing Regent for the Grayson Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She now is currently the Registrar for this chapter. She comes from a long line of family members and ancestors who served in wars from the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan. She has traveled extensively due to her interest in genealogy and has met many interesting people along the way. She believes in service to community and that has been the moving force for her both in California and Kentucky. 2nd term expires December 31, 2026

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Mary Lynn Collins grew up in Laurel County and has wonderful memories of the library there in London. She is a graduate of Kentucky State University and had a long career as a legislative analyst and committee staff administrator with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. She has been very active in civic activities and was listed by the Kentucky Gazette as one of the 2022 Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government. Mary Lynn has always been passionate about libraries. She is a long-time member of the Friends of Paul Sawyier Public Library, a former President of the PSPL Friends and current trustee of PSPL Library Board. She has served for over 16 years as the co-manager of the local Friends Bookstore. Mary Lynn has received several state library advocacy awards and was the 2014 recipient of the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Award. She is a founding member of the Friends of Kentucky Libraries and a lifetime member. Mary Lynn is happy to return to the State Friends to help advocate for libraries and support our Friends chapters.  1st term expires 12/31/2026

Early in Christine Robinson’s work life/career , she taught elementary school, migrating to Montessori teaching when she obtained a Directress Degree from the Michigan Montessori Center. Raising 3 children subsequently became her focus, and, as her children grew , she began working at UK libraries, pursuing a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science, and then worked several years in library conversion projects for the community colleges.
She has served in a variety of library positions with Kentucky’s independent colleges, the University of Kentucky, and Sullivan University. The final part of her career she had the privilege of serving Kentucky’s libraries as Director of Administrative Services/Deputy Commissioner for 15 years, retiring in 2009. With energy remaining that needed to be channeled , she went back to school, received a Real Estate license, and practiced Real Estate in Georgetown for 4 1/2 years. Since 2014 she has served her community through organization and board work. 2nd term expires 12/31/2025

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Janet Meyer is a member of Friends of Paul Sawyier Public Library, Franklin County. 2nd term expires 12/31/2026

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Ex-Officio Board Member

Wayne Onkst is a native of London, KY where his first job was at the Laurel County Public Library. He received a BA in History and a MA in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. Upon receiving his MA, he worked for the Kenton County Public Library in a number of positions, becoming Director in 1999. He was appointed Kentucky’s State Librarian and Commissioner of the Kentucky Dept. for Libraries and Archives in 2006, and served until 2015. He enjoyed working closely with Friends groups throughout his career. In addition to being a lifetime member of the Friends of Kentucky Libraries, he serves on the board of the Kentucky Historical Society, the Jesse Stuart Foundation, and Welcome House of Northern Kentucky. He lives in Erlanger with his wife, Deborah.

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Denise Lyons, State Commissioner of Libraries

Denise Lyons is the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives and State Librarian in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her background includes specialization in library administration and management, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, and family literacy. She came most recently from Raleigh as an adjunct lecturer for UNC Greensboro’s MLIS program and spent 14 years as the Deputy Director and Consultant for the South Carolina State Library. She has worked in all kinds of libraries and her MLIS is from the University of South Carolina as well as a MS in Public Services Management and Nonprofit Administration from DePaul University in Chicago. Denise grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is very fond of traveling.

Nikole Giseke, Library Development Branch Manager

Beth Milburn, KDLA – Deputy Commissioner

Eunice attended Pikeville College in Pikeville, Kentucky, her hometown, before moving to Louisville, KY. She has served as treasurer of the Shively Chapter of the Friends of the Louisville Free Public Libraries, and as a board member of the LFPL Council of Friends. Currently she runs our website and keeps our membership roster up-to-date.