ADVISORY BOARD
May 2023 update – Let’s Move in Libraries is becoming an officially designated Non-Profit organization. As we go through this process, our advisory board is going through some changes. The individuals listed below are the current advisory board members – but we anticipate announcing the new, streamlined board of the 501(C)3 organization in September 2023.
The members of of the Let’s Move in Libraries Advisory Board work in public libraries, library support agencies, and in organizations that partner with public libraries across North America, and beyond.
Alyssa Braun is a library assistant with Red Deer Public Library in Alberta and a professional yoga teacher. Alyssa has a BA in Greek & Roman Studies with a minor in Contemporary Dance and a Library Information Technology diploma. She focuses her early literacy programs on physical literacy components between stories and rhymes, and runs a free virtual beginner adult yoga class every week. While being passionate about physical literacy and body neutrality, Alyssa also believes in accessible movement for all bodies, abilities and ages. When she is not in the library, you can find Alyssa reading, snuggling her cats and dancing salsa in the kitchen.
Christie has a vested interest in health and wellness initiatives in the community and has more than 20 years of experience with sports and fitness for both children and adults. From 2006-2016 she owned and operated a Baby Boot Camp stroller fitness franchise in St. Petersburg. Christie was also the National Director of Fitness for Baby Boot Camp for two years and provided ongoing support & continuing education to owners across the country. She has been the Community Engagement Supervisor with Healthy St. Pete and the City of St. Petersburg for the past three years. She enjoys combining her passion for wellness and her knowledge of fitness in this versatile role.
Heidi Buljung is a Senior Librarian with Adult Serivices at the Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the Library, she strives to provide programs and services for adults of all ages that focus on fun, life-long learning, and building community connections. While not at the library, she enjoys recharging her batteries by spending time outside either walking, hiking, or biking in the abundant Colorado sunshine.
Jenn Carson is a professional yoga teacher and the director of the L.P. Fisher Public Library in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. She is the creator of the website yogainthelibrary.com and has been delivering movement-based programs in schools, libraries, and museums for a decade. She also blogs about her physical literacy adventures at the ALA’s Programming Librarian website. She is the award-winning author of Get Your Community Moving: Physical Literacy for All Ages (ALA Editions, 2018) and Yoga and Meditation at the Library: A Practical Guide for Librarians (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). She was a 2019 Library Journal Mover & Shaker for her physical literacy advocacy. You can find her at www.jenncarson.com.
In 1997, Susan began her library career at the Thomasville Public Library as a Smart Start provider. A year later, she moved to the Lexington branch where she worked in the Technical Services department. She was in acquisitions for 5 years, then moved up to Technical Services Supervisor. During that time, she graduated from High Point University with a degree in Elementary Education. She was the Technical Services Supervisor for 13 years, taking a short break in-between to teach for a year and a half. She went back to school and received her MLS from NC Central, then took a job as branch manager at the Denton Public Library. In 2019 she was promoted to Assistant Director of the Davidson Public Library System.
Deborah Dutcher is the Youth and Adult Services Consultant at the New Hampshire State Library where she provides advisory services to public and school libraries. She coordinates statewide library literacy and family engagement initiatives and develops continuing education workshops for librarians. She serves on state, regional and national committees that foster development of library services to public and school libraries. A current Let’s Move in Libraries National Advisory Board Member, she has been Vice President/President/Past-President of the Vermont Library Association and the New England Library Association. She has previously worked in public and school library settings.
Danielle Fortin is the Teen Services Librarian at the McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, Maine and the Chair of the Youth Services Section for the Maine Library Association. She believes that the library is an ideal venue for whole body wellness, promoting self care, healthy living, and fun, all in one central location. She enjoys creating engaging programs and activities that incorporate health and physical literacy while still being entertaining. In her spare time she plays and officiates roller derby for Maine Roller Derby, and enjoys relaxing with her very spoiled cats.
Amb. Enwongo-Abasi Francis is a multiple award winning, talented and exceptionally sensitive and dedicated Librarian, Literacy and Community development advocate and practitioner with an excellent public record in Community Librarianship, Children Literacy development, SDGs and Education recently selected and named among the World’s Top 30 Under 30 Literacy Leaders by International Literacy Association. He hails from Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria, West Africa.
Renee Greenlee is a Children and Family Services librarian at Marion Public Library. She has always been interested in physical activity and outdoor exercise, and enjoyed teaching Bodyflow, a tai chi/yoga/Pilates fusion, for several years at the local YMCA. Renee believes that public libraries are an important bridge for equitable access to information and opportunities for healthy living and physical literacy. Through her position at Marion Public Library, she has developed a Music and Movement program and has partnered with Marion Parks and Recreation to initiate a permanent StoryWalk at a local park. Renee is excited to use her personal and professional experience to broaden the reach of health living and physical literacy information through her role as a Let’s Move in Libraries advisory board member.
Kim began volunteering in libraries in 2006, and has been the Branch Librarian at the Crook County Library since 2015. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with her BA in English Secondary Education and completed the Library Media Specialist Graduate Program through Montana State University. She runs Crook County Library’s Geri-Fit exercise program, leading five classes a week with an average of 35 patrons attending each week. She has three teenage daughters and three dogs, and they all get outdoors to hike, fish, and play as often as they can.
Amelia Hill is the Program Coordinator for Polk County Public Libraries in Columbus, North Carolina. Of her library’s vast variety of programs, she is most proud of their initiative and dedication to offer health and wellness programs to her community. Her experience includes organizing and leading successful library programming such as 5k events, healthy eating clinics, a monthly cookbook club, community walks and tours, self-defense classes, yoga, and dance party storytime. Most recently, Polk County Public Libraries installed a permanent StoryWalk at a local park. In her free time, Amelia is a tap dance instructor, practices yoga, and enjoys running.
Zella Jensen has volunteered in various libraries over the years. She currently works as a Story time librarian at a small-town library in beautiful Utah. Her passions include running, yoga, meditation, mindful nutrition, cooking with herbs and gardening. In her story time presentations, she loves to implement as much movement and music as possible not only because she can hardly sit still but also because the children love it so much! Storytime with yoga at the park has been one of her favorite ways to combine literacy and movement together. She also taught a gentle online yoga class for the Senior Community of her town during quarantine. Another service that she has been enthusiastic about, is a summer lunch distribution for the children in her area. Working with a local food bank, her committee of volunteers distributed an average of 166 meals per day at the library. This provided many wonderful opportunities to get to know patrons in a relaxed outdoor setting. It was touching when children brought wildflower bouquets they had gathered on their way to the library, showing their appreciation for the yummy lunches. With the limitations brought on by the coronavirus, she has also been taking her message of literacy and movement to the elementary schools in her area.
Donna lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but began her work at the Shawnee Library System in southern Illinois, writing and implementing grants, including one to put on a Midwest Rural Library Conference in 1986. She ran a photography business for 20 years that focused on black and white photographs of newborns and special needs people. At the Neenah Public Library in Wisconsin, she created a musical storytime, Bach to Rock, and a yoga storytime, Bookworm Yoga. She has a 200 hour YTT certification and also has certificates in Accessible Yoga and “Stories, Stretches and Songs.” Donna is currently keeping her storytime skills up by doing 4 musical yoga storytimes back to back one morning a week in a local day care center, and is completing her 500 hour YTT this September in Yoga Wellness. She is a new grandma and loves singing and reading to baby Ruthie and yoga (of course), walking, and is an AirBnb hostess for Packer games.
Marie Letarte is the Director of the Bigelow Free Public Library in Clinton. She is a serial exerciser, still trying to find her favorite, but leaning toward swing dancing. Working with local non-profits, she’s brought all sorts of health activities to the library, including salsa dancing, tai chi, yoga, cooking demos, and a weekly walking group. The most steps she’s walked in a day was almost 30k, according to her fitbit. Marie is a firm believer in nature therapy and eating wild blueberries wherever she finds them.
Sandy Mayer began working as a librarian at the Orange County Library System in 2001 after spending many years in the mental health field. She holds degrees in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, and received her MLIS from Florida State University in 2008. Currently, Sandy plans and facilitates all things adult at the Southwest branch. She is delighted her experiences and passions have come full circle in her work as a librarian. In addition, her training in dance and fitness instruction, as an Ageless Grace educator, and love of the outdoors has inspired her to create movement and fitness programs for adults and seniors with a goal of increasing their physical health and mental well-being.
Sarah McGowan is the Interim Director of the McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, KY, and is a 2001 graduate of the MLIS program at University of Kentucky. The public library’s potential in communities for providing welcoming and accessible heath, wellness and physical activity-based programming is a professional passion. Equally passionate in her personal life about the mental and physical benefits of movement and the outdoors, she enjoys practicing yoga, camping and cycling.
Nicole Miller is the Director of the Cannon Falls Library and a certified group fitness instructor. She is a long-time fitness devotee and former gymnastics coach. She always looks for new ways to engage the community and share valuable information, and thought fitness seemed like a fun and bold new frontier.
Donna Pierce has been the director of the Krum Public Library since March 2007. During that time the library has grown from a small “used book store” to a wonderful, modern library. She has worked in libraries off and on her entire life (including volunteering at the age of nine.) She received her MLS from Texas Woman’s University. She tries very hard to practice mindfulness and physical movement in both her personal life and in the library, and has a 64 lb. Lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback who “keeps me from being a total couch potato when I get home!”
Kelly Senser is a programming coordinator for Loudoun County Public Library in northern Virginia. Equal parts reader and nature explorer, she regards libraries and the great outdoors as treasured spaces to nurture one’s sense of wonder. During her 20 years at National Wildlife Federation, gardening for wildlife and the benefits of outdoor play were centerpieces of the content and programs she created. Passions for these subjects and community-building now fuel her local efforts to connect people with nature. Kelly has been a certified Virginia Master Naturalist since 2015.
Barbara Scott has been Children’s Librarian at Bucyrus Public Library in Ohio for 33 years. She is also Executive Director of Crawford Reads 20, a county-wide initiative. For the past 5 years, Barbara has written United Way grants for and co-taught a wildly successful Music, Movement, and More program at her library. Total attendance has reached over 13,000 folks! During the COVID-19 Pandemic, she was asked and able to take the program out into 3 area preschools, exposing over 500 more children to the program. She has spoken on this program at Ohio Library Council chapter conferences and at an ALSC National Institute.
Elizabeth Smith is a Circulation Clerk and self-proclaimed “concierge librarian” at the Village Branch Library in Pickens, SC. Before her current gig, she was a private school librarian for over 15 years. After becoming a first-time mama at 40, she realized how vital her diet and movement was in keeping her and her family healthy. She has incorporated this focus and ambition to her programming work at her local branch with her Fit over 40 weekly exercise program, adding a StoryWalk at the local park/trail and most recently partnering with the local Recreation Center to provide food literacy programming as part of their summer camp for ages 5-12. She is an avid reader, lover of HIIT exercise and all things Jane Austen. She lives on a mountaintop in beautiful Pickens, SC with her outdoorsman hubby, her 5-year-old daughter, and a dog named Reese.
Staci Stanton has been Assistant Director at the Knoxville Public Library in Iowa for 10 years and is currently enrolled in the MLIS program at San Jose State University. During this time, she has learned to appreciate the invaluable benefits of reducing stress and improving overall mental and physical health through exercise, using CrossFit as that means for the past five years. Her passion for health has inspired her to be a better advocate for others’ well-being, recently earning the CrossFit Level 1 Training Certification and Medical Library Association Consumer Health Specialization.
Zachary Stier (Mr. Z) has been a public librarian for over 10 years, and he is currently the head of children’s services at Ericson Public Library in Boone, Iowa. In his role, Stier is leads the department and is actively developing comprehensive programming for children and families. He has reimagined the role children’s librarians play within the system of the public library. Stier believes in spearheading new opportunities for the community including a 3 year partnership with NASA through the NASA@ My Library program, piloting a new family engagement study called, Little Engines, and developing augmented and virtual reality programs to name a few. Stier holds a Masters in Library and Information Science, a Masters in Early Childhood Education, and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership.
Chelsea Swinford (she/they) has thirteen years’ experience in public libraries with a focus in youth services, where she incorporated elements of yoga and mindfulness into storytimes and worked to promote physical and environmental literacy with outdoor programming. Chelsea currently works writing from home, where she lives with her partner, Nash, and their baby, Rowan. Much like his mom, Rowan takes great pleasure in running (even if he needs to hold someone’s hands to stay upright).
Kayleigh Thomas is the Assistant Director for the Gilford Public Library in Gilford, NH. She received her MLIS from University of Rhode Island, and a BA in Psychology from University of Maine at Orono. It is Kayleigh’s goal to offer intellectually, physically, and emotionally stimulating programming and resources for the community. Programs she’s headed have included a Race to Summer Reading 5K in 2015, a bi-weekly GeriFit class for seniors, as well as weekly Tai Chi class and Line Dancing class. When not at the library, you can find Kayleigh baking, hiking, reading, or playing with her dog.
Lisa Weekes is the Associate Director of the Chinook Arch Regional Library System, which consists of 33 member libraries across southwest Alberta. Physical literacy and lifelong active living are personal and professional passions that guide her program and project development. She has worked in the public library world for over 10 years. On the personal side, Lisa enjoys family trips across Canada and beyond with her husband and two teen sons.
James Zola has been Manager of Children’s Services for 23 summers (that is how children’s librarians measure time) at the High Point Public Library. Before that I worked as a librarian/technology teacher at the North Carolina School for the Deaf and ten years as toy designer for Fisher-Price. I have always been an advocate for children and love all the different ways we are able to effect a child’s life through programs at the library. My current project is the installation of a sensory garden at the library. In my spare time I am an author of three poetry books and a photographer with a multitude of photo-art publications. Also a dog lover and recent grandfather.
PAST ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Note: Biographies reflect the time members served on advisory board and may not be up to date
Heidi Beke-Harrigan is a yoga teacher, medical communicator and health sciences librarian. At OhioNET, she coordinates, promotes and co-develops continuing education opportunities and member services that support librarians in their work. In her role as a yoga and yoga nidra teacher, Heidi strives to make movement and self-care accessible to everyone. She also co-facilitates the Day of Mindful Living, a program at River’s Edge in Cleveland that introduces law enforcement to mindfulness practices.
Lisa Hartzell is the Youth Services Librarian for the Haywood County Public Library in North Carolina, where she has worked for the past 25 years. At Haywood, she developed Rompin’ Stompin’ Storytime, a music and movement program. She is a 2015 graduate of the MLIS program at UNC-Greensboro. She is married and has 4 sons, all grown ranging in age from 20 to 29. She lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina not far from where she was raised.
Andi Jackson-Darling is the Director of the Falmouth Memorial Library in Maine. She Received her MLIS from the University of South Carolina and BA from the University of Southern Maine in Media Studies/Creative Writing. She practice yogas, chases grandchildren and walks her two labs for exercise. She feels moving our bodies is key to not only a healthy body, but good mental health as well. She is a past president (2011-2013) of the Maine Library Association.
Amy Mapel has over 21 years of experience in public libraries (and a 1 ½ year stint in a private school library). Currently she is the director of the Carnegie Library in Newnan, Georgia, where she has worked since it’s re-opening in 2009. The library offers several movement programs including Exercise is Medicine, Gentle Yoga, and very active Story Times. Amy is enthusiastic about fitness herself and enjoys Jazzercise, yoga and bike rides with her family.
Cosette Ratliff is a Supervising Librarian with the Alameda Free Library in California. She has a varied background of military (USAF), the Peace Corps (Marshall Is. 85-88), and 911 Dispatch. She earned her MLIS at San Jose State University and worked at the Dallas Public Library before coming to Alameda. Cosette’s passionate about helping others explore the outdoors, and developed the Libraries Outside program to help provide access to information and supplies for the community.
Betsy Sumerford is the Children’s Services Manager at May Memorial Library in Alamance County, North Carolina. She has been teaching yoga since 2012 and is excited to combine movement-based programming with library services (and to hear how others do so as well!).
David Miller is the Library & Cultural Resources Director for the Town of Farmville, North Carolina. He enjoys the opportunity for the Farmville Public Library to expand its role as its area’s information center to fill a variety of community needs, including health initiatives. Some of his library’s health programs that he is most proud of include an annual 5k, bicycle repair learning clinics, and a pedometer checkout program. When David is not at his library, you can find him outside either running or cycling.
Heidi Whelan is Youth Services Librarian at Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, Maine. She has a Bachelor’s degree in LIS from the University of Maine at Augusta and is currently enrolled in the MLIS program at Kent State. She is an early literacy expert who works to keep current in the field. Her enthusiasm for mindfulness, body awareness, and physical movement led her to incorporate these philosophies into programming for children aged birth to eighteen.
Catherine Jellison is an Early Literacy Specialist at the Crofton Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library in Maryland, where she provides storytimes for children under 5, sensory storytime, family music and movement programs, and downloadable content/mobile device training for all ages. In her free time she loves to cook, run and hike with her dog, and putter around the garden.
With thirteen years of librarianship Christy Dyson, Assistant Branch Manager for Fulton County Libraries is loving every minute of her career and her hobby. Originally from Denver, Colorado and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University School of Library Information studies, she worked as a public services librarian and as the coordinator of teen service programs for the Fayette County [GA] Public Library. Working at the Roswell Branch and throughout the county promoting the Let’s Move in Libraries Initiative, she finds that providing wellness & fitness services builds partnerships in and outside of the library walls. As a fitness enthusiast, fitness instructor, and a lover of wellness, she says that “providing movement based programming and librarianship at the same time, you can’t go wrong.”
Kate has managed a small, rural library for the past 11 years, and sees a strong role for libraries in community development and wellness. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Adult Education (Community Development) at St. Francis Xavier University, and her research centers on the Community-Led Library’s potential to nurture individual and community transformation. She is happiest when her library is buzzing with folks doing yoga, knitting, learning, chatting, visiting the geckos, asking a million questions, creating, and connecting. She’s open to virtually any community-driven programming idea, as long as it’s legal and doesn’t involve fire.
Austin Persinger began his library career as a bookmobile driver in 2014 and became Director of Summers County Public Library in 2016. He is passionate about physical health and how movement impacts mental health and fitness. He is enamored of the term “physical literacy”. Austin strives to create a culture of wellness in his community by offering movement based activities as well as excellent library materials relating to mental and physical health. When not in the library, Austin enjoys training at the gym, trail running, and dog walking.
Lisa Maiden has worked at DCPL for 7 years. In her current position, she realized older adults in the community didn’t have a free place where they could attend fitness classes. Now, DCPL is a main spot on the list where older adults can go for fitness classes, including yoga, strength training, Drums Alive, Pilates, and more. Outside of work, Lisa loves to spend time playing outside with her family, which includes her husband, son, and two cats.
Anna Zanarini is a Senior Librarian in Early Learning Outreach and Programming with the Salt Lake County Library in Utah. She has nearly 25 years of experience working with children in libraries doing storytimes and other programs, usually adding a movement component to whatever she does. She is also a fitness instructor who began this second career in 2010 when she discovered the fun of Zumba and wanted to share it with everyone she met, especially children at the library.