The five volunteer members of the WCLS Board of Trustees are appointed by the Whatcom County Executive. The Library Board is responsible for budget oversight and setting policy for WCLS. Day-to-day management is entrusted to the Executive Director, who is hired by the Board. Regular public meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month. Please see the meeting schedule below for dates and locations.
If you believe in libraries and would like to apply when an opening is available on the Board of Trustees, please click the following links to review the Application Form and to find more information on How to Apply. Trustees’ terms are noted with their photos on this page. In addition to meeting the expectations for Whatcom County board and commission members, WCLS Board of Trustees members must be able to uphold the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement, the Washington Library Association Intellectual Freedom Section and the WCLS Board of Trustees Bylaws, Trustee Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy.
Board of Trustees

Rodney Lofdahl, Chair
Finance Committee
Personnel Committee
Second Term
Expires 1/31/2026

Lori Jump, Vice Chair
WCLF Liaison
Marketing Committee
IT Committee
Second Term
Expires 1/31/2024

Erika Lautenbach, Secretary
Second Term
Expires 1/31/2027

Holly Robinson
Personnel Committee
First Term
Expires 1/31/2028

Matthew Santos
Marketing Committee
IT Committee
First Term
Expires 1/31/2025

Christine Perkins
Executive Director
Whatcom County Library System
Contact Executive Director
Public Meetings
The Board holds its regular public meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Locations vary. Changes to the schedule become available at least one week in advance. Persons with special needs or disabilities who will need accommodations to attend the meetings are asked to please contact Em.Olpinski@wcls.org at least three business days in advance of the meeting.
Board of Trustees Meetings are open to the public in accordance with RCW 42.30. The Board is currently holding meetings with options for in-person or remote participation. This year’s meeting dates and locations are shown below. Persons wishing to be provided an internet link or telephone number to access the meeting are asked to please email Em.Olpinski@wcls.org before the meeting, in accordance with the agenda notice, or at least three business days in advance of the meeting if special accommodations are required to attend the meeting. Written public comments may be submitted to Em.Olpinski@wcls.org prior to the meeting.
2023 Meeting Dates: | Location: |
January 17 | Zoom and Lynden Library |
February 21 | Zoom and Administrative Services |
March 21 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
April 18 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
May 16 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
June 20 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
July 18 | Microsoft Teams and Island Library |
August 15 | Microsoft Teams and Sumas Public Library |
September 19 | Microsoft Teams and Everson McBeath Community Library |
October 17 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
November 21 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
December 19 | Microsoft Teams and Administrative Services |
Documents
Agendas
2023-05-16
2023-04-18
2023-03-21
2023-02-21
2023-01-17
2022-12-20
2022-11-15
2022-10-18
2022-09-20
2022-08-16
2022-07-19
2022-06-30 Special Meeting
2022-06-21