Board of Directors
At the November 2, 2010 General Election the voters of Hood River County approved the formation of a Special Library District.
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- Learn more: What is a Special 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
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, 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, 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@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.
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@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
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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