Board of Directors

Three positions are open for election on the Hood River County Library District Board. The elected members will serve four-year terms from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.

Interested candidates can request an information packet, which includes information about the district and position, from the district office. Please call 541-387-7062, email
rachael@hoodriverlibrary.org, or visit our Hood River Library to speak with the Library Director.

Candidates interested in running for these positions can file with the Hood River County Elections Office between February 8, 2025 and March 20, 2025. For more information, visit https://hoodriverlibrary.org/about/board/.

At the November 2, 2010 General Election the voters of Hood River County approved the formation of a Special Library District.

The District is an independent unit of local government dedicated to library operation in Hood River County and is governed by an independent, unpaid Board of Directors elected by the local community. Board members serve 4-year terms. Please review our Board Governance Policy for more information.

The Library Board welcomes your suggestions and questions. Can you help us envision our library? What services are important to you? Public input is much appreciated! Meetings are open to the public.

Meeting packets and minutes can be found further down on this page

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Meeting Room

Regular board meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.00p in the Jeanne Marie Gaulke Community Meeting Room in the Hood River branch library, 502 State St, Hood River.

Current Board of Directors

Brian Hackett

Brian Hackett, President

brian@hoodriverlibrary.org
Term ends: June 2027

Brian and his family moved to Hood River in 2015. Before moving back to the Pacific Northwest Brian served as a U.S. Army Field Artillery officer, ran investigations for Congress, and later worked at the Department of State. After over 20 years overseas and on the East Coast, he was able to make the amazing and much needed move to Hood River.

In addition to the Library Board, he enjoys working as a USA Swimming meet official, Hood River Valley Swim Team Board President, Klickitat County Search and Rescue team member, and as the Adjutant with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hood River Post# 12211. In his free time Brian is an avid ocean kayaker and Kettlebell enthusiast.

Karen Bureker

Karen Bureker, Vice President

karen@hoodriverlibrary.org
Term ends: June 2025

Karen moved to Hood River in 2000 after graduating from Oregon Health Sciences University with a certificate and license in Paramedicine in 2000 and Lewis and Clark College in 1998 with a BA in Hispanic Studies and Latin American Studies. She has worked for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue since 2002 and is currently a Fire Captain/ Paramedic. She has a love of helping others and her community.

While not at work, Karen enjoys time with her husband and three children. She enjoys reading, knitting and all sports including skiing, tennis, mountain biking, kiteboarding, wing foiling, and coaching middle school track and field. Karen has been on the library board since 2016 and loves supporting her county library. She has been an active library supporter since the closing of the county library in 2010. She feels that the libraries in Hood River County are essential community spaces where people of any race, gender, class, age or background are supported and can thrive.

Megan Janik

Megan Janik

megan@hoodriverlibrary.org
Term ends: June 2025

Megan is a lifelong resident of Cascade Locks. She graduated from Cascade Locks high school then received a bachelor of psychology degree from Portland State University. Megan has been with the Justice Court in Cascade Locks for Hood River County for 15 years.

She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and gardening. She is excited to be part of the library district and proud to be part of a community that believes in the inclusiveness libraries have to offer, a place for everyone regardless of age, background, economic status, education level political or religious beliefs.

Sarah Marsden

Sara Marsden

saram@hoodriverlibrary.org
Term ends: June 2025

Sara grew up in Colorado and has called Hood River home since 2011 where she lives with her husband and two teenagers, two dogs, two cats, and a hedgehog. She has degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Sydney, Australia. She is a registered nurse and has worked in the fields of pediatrics, hospice, and women’s health.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering on the Hood River Valley Water Polo Board, and she is an avid potter. She is honored to serve on the Hood River County Library District Board.

Jean Sheppard

Jean Sheppard

jean@hoodriverlibrary.org
Term ends: June 2027

Jean has lived in Hood River County since 1993. A native of New Jersey, Jean has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Elizabeth University and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. She is currently employed as a staff attorney in the Hood River office of Immigration Counseling Service, a non-profit law firm based in Portland. Jean was first elected to the Hood River County Library District Board in 2015 and served as Board President from 2016 to 2023. Jean is also on the board of the Hood River Rotary Club, and is the club’s Youth Exchange Officer, and on the board of directors of the United Way of the Columbia Gorge.

She is passionate about the power of reading and wants to ensure that all Hood River County residents, especially children, have access to books and educational materials and programs. Jean and her husband live in a small pear orchard and are the parents of five grown children, all graduates of Hood River Valley High School.

Meetings, packets & minutes

2024-25 meetings

February 18, 2025

January 21, 2024

December 17, 2024 – Board meeting

November 19, 2024 – Board meeting

October 15, 2024 – Board meeting

September 17, 2024 – Board meeting

August 20, 2024 – Board meeting

July 16, 2024 – Board meeting

2023-24 meetings

 

June 18, 2024 – Board meeting

May 21, 2024 – Board meeting

April 16, 2024 – Board meeting

March 18, 2024 – Board meeting

February 20, 2024 – Board meeting

February 18, 2024 – Special Board meeting

January 31, 2024 – Board meeting

January 16, 2024 – Board meeting CANCELLED

December 19, 2023 – Board meeting

December 16, 2023 – Special Board meeting

November 21, 2023 – Board meeting

October 17, 2023 – Board meeting

September 19, 2023 – Board meeting

August 15, 2023 – Board meeting

July 20, 2023 – Special meeting

July 18, 2023 – Board meeting

2022-23 meetings

June 20, 2023 – Board meeting

May 16, 2023 – Board meeting

April 18, 2023 – Board meeting

March 28, 2023 – Board meeting (Moved to the fourth week)

February 28, 2023 – Board meeting

February 21, 2023 – Board meeting (RESCHEDULED for February 28, 2023)

January 17, 2023 – Board meeting

December 20, 2022 – Board meeting

November 15, 2022 – Board meeting

October 18, 2022 – Board meeting

September 20, 2022 – Board meeting

August 16, 2022 – Board meeting

July 19, 2022 – Board meeting

2021-22 meetings

June 21, 2022 – Board meeting

May 17, 2022 – Board meeting

April 19, 2022 – Board meeting

April 19, 2022 – Annual Planning Meeting

March 15, 2022  – Zoom meeting

February 15, 2022 – Zoom meeting

January 18, 2022 – Zoom meeting

December 21, 2021 – Zoom meeting

November 16, 2021 – Zoom meeting

October 19, 2021 – Zoom meeting

September 21, 2021 – Zoom meeting

August 17, 2021 – Zoom meeting

July 20, 2021- Hybrid meeting (In-person/Zoom)

2020-21 meetings

June 16, 2021 – Zoom meeting

May 18, 2021 – Zoom meeting

April 20, 2021 – Zoom meeting

March 16, 2021 – Zoom meeting

February 16, 2021 – Zoom meeting

January 19, 2021 – Zoom meeting

December 15, 2020 – Zoom meeting

November 17, 2020 – Zoom meeting

October 20, 2020 – Zoom meeting

September 15, 2020 – Zoom meeting

August 26, 2020 – Zoom meeting

July 21, 2020 – Zoom meeting

2019-20 meetings

June 16, 2020 – Zoom meeting

May 19, 2020 – Zoom meeting

April 21, 2020 – Zoom meeting

March 18, 2020 – CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19

March 16, 2020 Special meeting – CANCELED DUE TO EMERGENCY MEETING

March 14, 2020 – Emergency meeting

February 19, 2020

January 21, 2020

December 17, 2019

December 17, 2019 [Planning session]

November 19, 2019

October 29, 2019 – Special meeting, canceled

October 15, 2019

September 17, 2019

August 20, 2019

July 16, 2019

2018-19 meetings

June 18, 2019

May 21, 2019

April 16, 2019

March 19, 2019

February 26, 2019

January 15, 2019

December 18, 2018

November 27, 2018

October 16, 2018

September 18, 2018

August 28, 2018

July 17, 2018

2017-18 meetings

June 19, 2018

June 19, 2018 – Planning session

May 29, 2018

April 17, 2018

March 20, 2018

February 20, 2018

January 16, 2018

December 19, 2017

November 21, 2017

October 17, 2017

September 19, 2017

August 15, 2017

July 18, 2017

2016-17 meetings

June 20, 2017

May 16, 2017

May 16, 2017  Technology replacement and maintenance schedule planning session

April 18, 2017

March 21, 2017

February 21, 2017

January 24, 2017

January 17, 2017 (Rescheduled to January 24, 2017)

December 20, 2016

November 29, 2016

November 15, 2016 (Rescheduled to November, 29)

October 18, 2016

September 20, 2016

August 16, 2016

July 19, 2016

July 10, 2016 (director candidate deliberation)

July 9, 2016, 7.00-9.00p (director candidate meet & greet)

July 9, 2016, 8.30a-4.00p (Interviews for library director candidates)

2015-16 meetings

June 21, 2016

May 17, 2016

April 19, 2016

April 2, 2016 (strategic planning visioning retreat)

March 22, 2016

March 15, 2016 (rescheduled to March 22)

February 16, 2016

January 19, 2016

December 15, 2015

November 17, 2015

October 20, 2015

September 15, 2015

August 18, 2015

July 21, 2015

2014-15 meetings

June 16, 2015

May 19, 2015

April 21, 2015

March 17, 2015

March 3, 2015 (Special meeting: technology planning session)

February 17, 2015

January 20, 2015

December 16, 2014

November 18, 2014

October 21, 2014

September 16, 2014

August 19, 2014

July 15, 2014

For archived board meeting documents, please contact us.

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Hood River County Library District is committed to delivering excellent library services to all of the people of Hood River County, Oregon.