This month, I’d like to introduce the 2025 MCLS Board of Directors and what they do for you, our members who own MCLS. At their fall retreat this past November, I observed the MCLS Board come away with new energy and a sense of purpose for their upcoming plans in 2025. As we continue through a challenging time for libraries, I encourage you to engage with the Board members to let them know what’s on your mind and what matters most to you. To learn more about the Board – including its structure, meetings, and documents – please visit our webpage.
One of the most important things the MCLS Board does is to maintain a vision statement for why MCLS exists:
MCLS exists so that libraries of all sizes and types are community-responsive leaders who embrace the challenges of contemporary library practice, develop innovative solutions, foster robust collaborations, and facilitate transformative learning. (Board Policy Manual, p. 3)
MCLS’s member libraries own the organization, and our Board members serve as the informed voice and agent of the owners. In other words, the MCLS Board exists to assure that MCLS serves owners’ interests through the work we do as an organization. To do that, the Board needs to stay engaged, or “linked,” with owners. The Board paused its “ownership linkage” (aka member engagement) work in 2024 while we drafted our strategic plan, and will resume that work in 2025. Again, I hope you’ll take opportunities to engage with our Board members, whether reaching out by email or phone, meeting up at conferences and other events, or responding when Board members ask for your input.
Here are the 2025 MCLS Board of Directors:
| Polly Boruff-Jones Vice President |
Oakland University Kresge Library 100 Library Drive Rochester, MI 48309-4479 248-370-2459 boruffjones@oakland.edu |
At-Large Representative Term ends |
| Mike Hawthorne Treasurer |
Wayne State University Undergraduate Library 5150 Anthony Wayne Dr. Detroit, MI 48202 313-577-0373 ab1418@wayne.edu |
Research Library Representative Term ends |
| Kendra Lake | North Central Michigan College 1515 Howard Street Petoskey, MI 49770 231-348-6715 klake@ncmich.edu |
Academic Library Representative Term ends |
| Ann West LaPrise | Cornerstone Charter Schools 306 E 4th St. Royal Oak, MI 48067 248-439-6228 ann.laprise@cegschools.org |
School Library Representative Term ends |
| Beth McNeil | Purdue University Libraries 504 Mitch Daniels Blvd. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2058 765-494-2900 memcneil@purdue.edu |
Research Library Representative Term ends |
| Melissa Merida | New Albany-Floyd County Public Library 180 W. Spring Street New Albany, IN 47150 812-944-8464 mmerida@nafclibrary.org |
Public Library Representative
Term ends |
| Stephen Patton | Indiana State University Cunningham Memorial Library 510 N 6 1/2 Street Terre Haute, IN 47809 812-237-3180 stephen.patton@indstate.edu |
At-Large Representative Term ends |
| Josh Petrusa | Butler University 4600 Sunset Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46208 317-940-9236 jpetrusa@butler.edu |
Academic Library Representative Term ends |
| Paulina Poplawska | Salem-South Lyon District Library 9800 Pontiac Trail South Lyon, MI 48178 248-437-6431 ext. 206 ppoplawska@ssldl.info |
At-Large Representative Term ends |
| Randy Riley | Library of Michigan P.O. Box 30007 Lansing, MI 48909 517-335-1517 rileyr1@michigan.gov |
Permanent Seat
No term limit |
| Raenell (Rain) Smith | Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation Whiteland Community High School 300 Main Street Whiteland, IN 46184 317-535-7562 ext. 7114 rsmith@cpcsc.k12.in.us |
School Library Representative Term ends |
| Trista Smith | Newburgh Chandler Public Library Bell Road Library 4111 Lakeshore Drive Newburgh, IN 47630 812-942-9997 tsmith@ncplibraries.org |
At-Large Representative Term ends
|
| Jake Speer | Indiana State Library 315 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-232-3693 jspeer@library.in.gov |
Permanent Seat
No term limit |
| Brenna Tuite Secretary
|
Franciscan Health Lafayette Medical Library 1701 South Creasy Lane Lafayette, IN 47905 765-502-4010 brenna.tuite@franciscanalliance.org |
Special Library Representative Term ends |
| Lisa Waskin President |
Superior District Library 541 Library Drive Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 906-632-9331 lwaskin@superiordistrictlibrary.org |
Public Library Representative Term ends |
| Rima Zalghout | Arab American National Museum 13624 Michigan Ave. Dearborn, MI 48126 313-429-2578 RZalghout@accesscommunity.org |
Special Library Representative Term ends |
Several Board members offered comments about why they serve, and I thank them for their comments.
“I’m excited to be part of the MCLS Board as a representative of Michigan’s academic library community. By strengthening and supporting connections between libraries of all types, we can help our institutions thrive. In 2025 and beyond, I hope we can build even better relationships with our members and create more opportunities for MCLS to succeed.”
-Kendra Lake, Michigan Academic Library Representative
“I serve on the Board so I can work with other librarians to help all libraries to thrive so we can serve our users. I also enjoy interacting with other librarians since I have been a lone librarian where I work.”
–Anni West LaPrise, Michigan School Library Representative
“By being a member of the Board, I have the opportunity to represent special libraries in Indiana and to voice the perspectives and needs of these member libraries. I look forward to contributing to MCLS as [Board] Secretary this year. I am thankful for this opportunity.”
-Brenna Tuite, Indiana Special Library Representative
“I serve on the Board as the Public Library Representative of Michigan because I value the services provided through MCLS to all types of libraries in both Michigan and Indiana. It is important to me that all library voices are heard.”
-Lisa Waskin, Michigan Public Library Representative
“I serve on the Board to feel connected to the MCLS community more broadly, which is wonderful for someone like me who works at a small library (I am the only employee!). I hope 2025 brings continued excellence, cooperation, and innovation!”
-Rima Zalghout, Michigan Special Library Representative
Want to learn more about the MCLS Board’s role? Please ask our Board members! Interested in serving? Watch for our call for nominations in mid-2025. Just like MCLS itself, our Board exists to serve you, the libraries who own MCLS. Watch for ways to engage with them and contact me anytime at garrisons@mcls.org.
Now that the fall conference and event season has begun, MCLS members will see MCLS Board of Directors members in a variety of places near and far. As the informed voice and agent of the member libraries who own MCLS, our Board needs to hear from you about how MCLS is doing in delivering on their new vision statement that took effect July 1. Are you getting good value for the time and dollars you invest in working with MCLS? What new value could MCLS provide for your library and the broader library community? What questions do you have for Board members, and what do you want them to know about what MCLS is doing well or ways we could improve to help libraries thrive?
Now is an especially good time to connect with Board members as they prepare for their annual fall retreat on Oct. 26-27. At the retreat, the Board will focus on MCLS’s future as a member-owned and governed organization, including how we can drive and foster innovation. As part of their work, they will consider how to stay connected with MCLS members so that together, we can build the best possible future for libraries.
As you talk with our Board members, consider how their current vision lands with you – what can MCLS do to turn vision into reality? What questions might you have about what the Board’s vision does or does not include? Their vision reads:
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services exists so that:
Libraries can benefit by gaining expanded access to resources, innovative and stable library services, and collaborative efforts, worth the continuing investment of members and affiliates.
What does this vision mean to you? What can we do to make it a reality, and how will we know we’ve done that?
If you know any of our Board members, seek them out and ask questions or share a story about how MCLS has made or could make a positive impact for your library. If you don’t know them yet, introduce yourself and learn more about them as colleagues and people, why they serve on our Board, and what their experience has been like.
You’ll also see members of the MCLS staff at many conferences and events this month and next. Talk to us, too – we want to know what’s on your mind and how we can help. As I say each month, you can always share your thoughts with me at garrisons@mcls.org.
The MCLS Board of Directors Nominating Committee seeks nominations from the MCLS membership for the following Board openings for 2027-2029:
Each seat serves a three-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and expiring Dec. 31, 2029.
The Board meets four times per year: in February (via Zoom), and in May, August, and November (in person), alternating between Indiana and Michigan. The November meeting includes a Board orientation and a two-day strategy retreat to review activity of the previous year, assess trends, and determine strategic changes to MCLS’s services and offerings. Newly-elected Board members are asked to attend this year’s annual retreat, Oct. 25-27, 2026. MCLS reimburses Board members for all direct meeting expenses.
The MCLS Board follows the Policy Governance Model developed by John and Miriam Carver. New Board members will receive an orientation to Policy Governance the day prior to the Board retreat (Oct. 25).
MCLS’s members are also its owners. The Board represents your interests as owners. Through the nominating process, you have the opportunity to put forth the names of those who will define our Ends and Limits, both of which guide MCLS staff as they consider the products, programs, and services MCLS offers. The slate of candidates will be chosen from the nominations, voted on by the current Board of Directors in August, and presented to membership for election in early September. MCLS will announce Board election results in October.
To assist you in nominating candidates, please read Section 3 of the Board Policy Manual for an overview of the Board’s work and responsibilities. Under MCLS’s Bylaws Section 4.03, only designated Member Representatives or Alternates from MCLS member institutions are eligible to serve on the Board.
If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors or wish to submit a nominee, please complete this form. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Central) on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. If you would prefer to mail your nomination, please send it to: MCLS Nominating Committee, 1407 Rensen Street, Lansing, MI 48910-3657.
Writing a personal remembrance of Randy Riley is something I’d never expected I would do during my career. It’s difficult because his passing was sudden and is so much to process as someone who knew and worked closely with him. It’s also not difficult because of how grateful I am for him and everything he gave so many as a leader and colleague, and as a person. Through his work and in life, Randy made a profound, incalculable difference.
As many statements from organizations including the Library of Michigan (LM), Library of Michigan Foundation, Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA), Michigan Library Association (MLA), and University of Michigan School of Information have noted, Randy was a singular and exemplary professional. Through his decades of devoted service to libraries and citizens throughout Michigan, he supported and led many important initiatives and fostered and promoted excellent access to a wide array of information. Randy’s affinity for genealogy and special collections tracked along with changing technology (e.g., in the form of LM’s support for the DPLA Michigan Service Hub, Michigan Memories, and the Michigan Digital Preservation Network [MDPN]). His strong support for MeL, the Michigan Notable Books program, LM’s grant programs, library staff professional development, and more endeared him to hundreds of libraries statewide. Randy was known as a relentless advocate who was generous with his time and help for libraries and library staff. He fielded as many questions and inquiries, visited as many libraries, and met with as many groups as he could. During the visits he and I made together, I marveled at his knowledge of what was happening at libraries of all sizes.
Randy also kept the Michigan library community connected to the wider profession through his work with the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) and as a member of the MCLS Board of Directors. He maintained countless long, positive, productive relationships with deep connections, including with some of us at MCLS, and called on his vast network to help the community through hard times when needed. People knew they had Randy’s support and answered his call in return whenever possible. His steady hand was invaluable through all the federal and state political and budget turmoil of 2025, and he rallied and guided many to engage and speak on behalf of MeL and other critical programs.
Randy was an articulate, incisive, thoughtful, passionate, and supportive constant presence on the MCLS Board for over ten years. As with so many other groups, it was rare that he’d miss a Board meeting. Though he would usually have plenty to say, he’d often let others in a larger group speak before weighing in on an issue. After we’d served on the Board together for a few years, Randy was one of the first people I called to seek advice about whether to apply for the Executive Director position. He urged me to go for it, and doing so changed my life. When I joined MCLS, our relationship evolved. We shifted from being fellow Board members to being the people who had the responsibility of leading the organization that made MeL possible and the organization that supported it. I came to see more facets of the complex person Randy was. I’d known him to be approachable, open, caring, direct, and funny. He also resisted anything he considered “touchy-feely,” and sometimes had an edge. He could be impatient when urgency to make a point got the better of him. I learned quickly that when he’d interrupt me mid-sentence, it was because he had an important point to make or question to ask based on his experience and thoughtful deliberation. He played such an important role that I always listened. When we were together, we would often have intense conversations on topics ranging from libraries to state and federal government to many aspects of life outside of work. He was usually much more concise in writing, often emailing a single sentence or question with the simple signature “r.”
Beyond libraries, we spoke often about our families, activities that included travel (e.g., family visits and his fishing trips), books he recommended, and our shared passion for music from many genres. Knowing Randy was nearing retirement, I asked for updates on his future plans. He’d say that he wanted to continue working while he could still “do cool things.” He wanted to guide newer LM staff including managers Michelle Bradley and David Votta. He also said that he didn’t want to end his career in bad times for libraries. He suggested that there were cycles of support for libraries and that we were either in or approaching a trough period. I appreciated how often he would urge us to stay strong and find ways to climb back up to a peak. As pained as Randy was by those who label librarians as “groomers” and “pedophiles,” he truly believed that libraries could have a bright future if librarians love and engage with people.
Randy used to joke that he had a “life sentence” on the MCLS Board until retirement (as the Indiana and Michigan state librarians each have a permanent Board seat). I knew the day would come when Randy would leave our Board, and I had not yet prepared fully for what it would mean to lose his voice, his experience, and his belief and faith in our organization through its successes, challenges, and potential. He told me during the November 2025 MCLS Board retreat that it would be his last, and I took that to mean that he was planning to retire in 2026 though he hadn’t announced anything official. I looked forward to wishing Randy the long, happy, and healthy retirement he so richly deserved.
On January 4, I learned Randy had passed the previous night. I was absolutely shocked and heartbroken.
I am heartbroken.
I am heartbroken for Randy, his wife Lori and their family and friends that he didn’t get to enjoy retirement with them. I am heartbroken for the LM staff, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), and the greater library community having lost him so abruptly.
As I started working through an enormous sense of loss, I started writing about the impact Randy had made and my memories of him. The words just flowed. Many of my MCLS colleagues and I were fortunate to join hundreds of others who mourned him at LM on January 9. The memorial was as singular as Randy was. The heartfelt comments from many of Randy’s colleagues, friends, and especially his brother Mark, will remain with all who were there.
Today, I move between gratitude and grief. I’m glad for so very many things, and sad for so many others. I’m glad Randy was able to provide such stable leadership at LM and for the many boards and working groups on which he served. I’m glad he was able to celebrate MeLCat’s 20th anniversary last year. I’m especially glad that Randy got to enjoy 37 years of marriage to Lori filled with so many rich experiences including all the time spent with their children Sam and Madeline and pets including his beloved dog Louis (pronounced like the French kings). He was clearly so proud and supportive of each member of his family, and I’ll miss hearing him talk about them. I’m glad Randy got to spend so much time traveling to fish, visit family, and see his favorite bands. I’m glad for the times I got to see bands with him, including The Baseball Project at Bell’s Back Room in Kalamazoo and The Hold Steady at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia. I’m sorry I never got to play him the bass solo he’d needled me about for years, at a Lighting Matches show. I’m grateful for the time he gave me for our monthly breakfast meetings and so many other conversations. I’ll miss wondering what discussion topics were on his list and whether I was as ready as he was to dig deeply into them that day, which eyeglasses he’d be wearing, whether or not he’d have a beard, what book and music recommendations he’d offer, and looking for his truck in the parking lot to remind me how late I was for our meeting (he was remarkably patient about that). I’ll miss his simple parting words: “Talk to you.”
Randy Riley was one of the kindest, most generous and supportive colleagues I’ve ever had. Whether he’d say so or not, he truly cared deeply about many, many people in his life. It was just obvious. While he spoke so many meaningful words so easily at library events across the state and in meetings around the country, his actions spoke much louder.
I am one of the innumerable people for whom Randy made an immense positive difference. I am thankful for his work, contributions, vision, insight, experience, humor, and everything else he shared with us. I will honor his memory by striving to be the forthright and decisive leader he pushed me to be. I’ll do what I can to help the library community stay strong, pull together, and collaborate, as he urged. I’ll read more, including the Michigan authors he championed. I’ll seek out and stay open to new music and invite others to join me to see bands more frequently.
I’m glad Randy Riley was my colleague. Working with him made my professional life richer.
I’m glad Randy Riley was my friend. Knowing him made my personal life richer.
I’m taking peace and comfort from years of great memories of Randy. If you knew him, I hope you are also.
If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know at garrisons@mcls.org.
