Meet your Board of Directors for 2027.

Left to right: President‑Elect Lee Burchfield, President Patti Jensen, Secretary Patty Jones, and Treasurer Simon Boes.

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2027 New FOKL Board members:

Left to right: Holly Daugherty, Louise Canter (Nominating Committee Chair), Kathy Kramer, and Arba Kenner, with Brandy Hale recognized though not pictured.

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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

Board of Directors Terms with possible re-elections.
Simon Boes – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Patty Jones – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Kathy Svoboda – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Catherine “Cubby” Ruby – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Lee Burchfield – 1st term expires 12/31/2028
Lorie Maltby – 1st term expires 12/31/2028
Patti Jensen – 2nd term expires 12/31/2028
Holly Daugherty – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Brandy Hale – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Arba Kenner – 1st term expires 12/31/2029
Kathy Kramer – 1st term expires 12/31/2029