County Council Completes Third Round of Library Board Interviews
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council interviewed another round of five candidates for the Anderson County Library Board of Trustees on Monday in an executive session during a special called council meeting in the historic courthouse downtown. All seven council members took part in the interviews.
These candidates represent the final round of five. Council has previously interviewed 10 candidates for the two newly created library board seats.
Council is expected to choose an indeterminate number of finalists from the 15 interviews for a second round, and announce their decision at the Sept. 3 county council meeting.
Council previously expressed a need for broader representation for the board based on the county’s rapid population growth, and County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said council is satisfied with the effort so far. Council has also expressed a desire for more diversity on the board, which is currently all female.
Three men and two women were interviewed on Monday:
Jay Blankenship, who earned a B.S. in Marketing from South Carolina State, is director of workforce development for Renewable Water Resources. A former trustee for Anderson School Dist. 5 and former Chairman of the Anderson County Alternative School, Blankenship has chaired several boards and committees related to workforce, education and community engagement. He said access to books for all “is important to the sustainability and growth of a resilient community.”
Lois Buckman, who earned a Master degree in Education from the University of Houston, is a retired teacher and school librarian. Buckman said her years of experience as a librarian make her a good candidate for the board. Buckman served on several state and national committees, including the American Library Association’s Children’s Choice and Lonestar Committees that selected best book of the year for both children and young adults. She said she has taught children’s literature and spoken nationally and internationally on children’s literacy issues.
Albert “Howie” Howard, attended Modesto Junior College, and works for AONE Business Development. Howard said he wants the library to “be a place where we can bring our children and we can all have fun learning and exploring books together.” Howard said his Hispanic background would bring diversity to the board.
Phillip Jones, who earned a Bachelor’s degree and attened Kentucky University and Ashbury College, said his interest in the library board stems from being raised by teachers who taught him to read and appreciate libraries at an early age. He said his previous experience as an account and Sports Information Director gives him a detail oriented and research-driven ability to build consensus “across a wide spectrum of interests.”
Sarabeth V. Stone, who earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo, said her experience as a freelance writer and homeschool parent “who values quality literature,” make her a good candidate for the board. Stone said she would examine the current library’s inventory and “plan for future purchases, book vendors…to ensure taxpayer dollars are appropriately spent on materials of high literary, educational and intellectual value.” Stone said her experience working with various professional groups would serve her well on the board.
Forty-three applications were received for the two positions, 27 applicants were women and 16 men. The current seven-member library board is made up entirely of women, and consists of one representative chosen by the council person in each district. Board members serve four-year terms, concerned some council members who are elected to two-year terms.