2024 Board

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. 1st term expires 12/31/2024

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

Manoj Shanker, Treasurer – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

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. 1st term expires 12/31/2024

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

Janet Meyer – 2nd term expires 12/31/2026

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. 2nd term expires 12/31/2024

Early in Christie 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

Simon Boes – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Barbara Brand – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Jill Hoskins – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Patti Jensen – 1st term expires 12/31/2025

Patty Jones – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Becky Knistern – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Kathy Svoboda – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Lisa Rice- 1st term expires 12/31/2026

Catherine “Cubby” Ruby – 1st term expires 12/31/2026

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.

Denise Lyons, State Commissioner of Libraries

Nikole Giseke, Library Development Branch Manager

Beth Milburn, KDLA – Deputy Commissioner