Monroe County Public Library is under the direction of a seven-member board of trustees who serve without pay. Board members are appointed for four-year staggered terms: two by the County Commissioners, three by the School Corporations, and two by the County Council.

Jaime Burkhart, President

  • Appointed by: Monroe County Community School Corporation
  • Original appointment term: February 2019, 2nd term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2027
More information about Jaime

Jaime Burkhart is is an IT project manager with OmniSOC at Indiana University. She has multiple degrees and certifications, including a Masters of Library Science from IU. She has also worked as a school librarian and believes you're never too old to enjoy children's and YA literature. She teaches English language learners in her spare time.

 

Katherine E. Loser, Vice President

  • Appointed by: County Commissioners
  • Original appointment term: August 2015, 3rd term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2026
More information about Katherine

Katherine (Kathy) Loser was a school librarian at Bloomington High School North for over 30 years  in the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC). Kathy also worked at MCPL as a Children’s Library Technician and as a summer Children’s librarian. She met her husband Duane Busick while they were working on Kids Alive during winter of 1975, at the TV station channel 7, which is now CATS at Monroe County Public Library.

 

Amy O'Shaughnessy, Treasurer

  • Appointed by: County Commissioners
  • Original appointment term: March 2024, 1st term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2027
More information about Amy

Amy O'Shaughnessy is currently the Director of Development for Major Gifts at WFIU/WTIU.  She has served as development and membership manager for Iowa Public Radio and has worked for various public media and nonprofit organizations over the course of her career.  She also has a background in marketing and communications, public education, and volunteer work.  Amy holds a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management and is passionate about the role that public libraries play in our community and across our society as a whole.

 

Chris Hull, Secretary 

  • Appointed by: County Council
  • Original appointment term: May 2023, 1st term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2027
More information about Chris

Chris Hull is a veteran educator who has taught in Bloomington area schools since 1990. She began her teaching career at Unionville, Childs, Fairview, and Arlington Elementary Schools before earning her Masters of Library Science. She then served as a school librarian at both Bloomington High School South, Arlington Elementary, and Summit Elementary School. Now retired, she’s a passionate gardener and reader.

 

Whitney Eads, Trustee

  • Appointed by: Monroe County Community School Corporation
  • Original appointment term: February 2025, 1st term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2029
More information about Whitney

Whitney is an English and language arts teacher at Tri-North Middle School and has worked with students within the Monroe County Community School Corporation for over 25 years. She’s taught 7th and 8th grade language arts and literacy and works to promote a discovery of personal connections to themes concerning the diversity of human experience. She is passionate about intellectual freedom, public service, and the value of lifelong learning.

 

Nancy VanAllen, Trustee

  • Appointed by: Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation
  • Original appointment term: February 2025, 1st term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2029
More information about Nancy

Nancy VanAllen is the school librarian at Edgewood High School in the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation. In her twenty-two years as an educator, she also has taught junior high and high school English in North Carolina and Indiana. She enjoys helping student leaders run book clubs, a writing club, and other library programs at EHS. In her free time she enjoys traveling with her family, reading, writing, and hiking. The public library has always been an important part of Nancy's life, and she looks forward to contributing to decisions that continue to make MCPL a great resource for the community.

 

Nichelle Whitney Wash, Trustee

  • Appointed by: County Council
  • Original appointment term: February 2022, 1st term
  • Term ends: January 31, 2026
More information about Nichelle

Nichelle Whitney Wash is a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant who has worked in a number of different roles in higher education, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector. She holds a BS in Human Biology from Indiana University Bloomington, and is founder of The Guarden, LLC.

 

Regular meetings: Third Wednesday of every month at 5:45 p.m. in Meeting Room 1B, first floor, Downtown Library.

The board is the policy-making body of the Library and determines such matters as hours open, holidays, vacations, salaries, and also works with the Director in preparing the Library budget. The board hires and advises the Director in the operation of the Library. The board meets monthly; meetings are open to the public. Meeting agenda with time and location are posted in various locations in the library 48 hours in advance. Meetings are cablecast live on the government channel of Community Access Television Services (CATS).