Board Members

Karen Bounds

President 

Centralia High School

School Library Representative

Email: kbounds@centraliahs.org

My name is Karen Bounds. I have been employed by Centralia High School for 19 years and was a K-12 librarian in the Edinburg district for 6 years prior to that. My educational background is as follows: Bachelors degree, University of Illinois; Masters Degree in Education, Southern Illinois University; Masters in Library and Information Technology, University of Illinois. I was part of the Synergy 2008 class. I have lived in Centralia most of my life and participate in a number of community organizations as I do believe in giving back to my community. My other interests include but are not limited to: photography, music, cycling, golf and reading, of course!

Joan Rhoades

Vice President

Vespasian Warner Public Library District (Clinton)

Public Library Representative

Phone: 217-935-5174  Email: rhoades@vwarner.org

I am the Co-Director of the Vespasian Warner Public Library District (VWPLD) in Clinton. I started at the Library as an evening clerk in 1988 after leaving a career in Law Enforcement. I obtained a MLS from the University of Illinois in 1995. From 1995 to 2000 I was a Reference Librarian/Cataloger. In 2000 I became Co-Director of the VWPLD. I have served on numerous committees over the years for my previous library system and served as President of our LLSAP. In addition to IHLS, I serve on the board of the DeWitt County Human Resource Center.

Janet Hasten

Secretary

Trustee, Marshall Public Library

Public Library Trustee Representative

My family roots run deep in the soil of Clark County. I was raised on a farm on Dolson Prairie which has been in our family since the late 1800s. My educational background centers on Eastern Illinois University where I earned a BS in Education and MS in Business Education. I currently teach business at Marshall High School, but I worked in the South Elementary School library at the beginning of my career in education. While I have never lived very far from my Clark County home, my husband and I love to travel. We have been to all 50 states, plus Mexico and Canada and hope to do more traveling in the future. My community service activities center around my church, the 4-H/Extension program, and libraries. I have been a trustee of the Marshall Public Library Board since 1987. During that time I have served as secretary, vice president and since 2006 have been serving as president. I consider it a great honor and privilege to have been elected to the first Illinois Heartland Library System Board of Directors. I sought this position because of my commitment to IHLS patrons. I want to create a system that will surpass all our patrons’ expectations and will serve as a model for others to emulate.

Nina Wunderlich

Treasurer

Trustee, Taylorville Public Library

Public Library Trustee Representative

Phone: 217-824-3272  Email: ninawun@consolidated.net

Raised on a flat farm in Edgar Co.; 26 in my high school class; BS major in Lib. Sci. 1971 ISU; MLS 1976 UIUC. Initial career as high school media specialist morphed into a K-12 librarian; a short stent as a system consultant; an academic librarian; and eventually a return to public schools as an elementary media specialist. The last 18 career years were spent as District. Elem. Librarian responsible for Taylorville’s 6 elem. libraries. During my retiring year in 2009, I had the added sad job of closing 2 libraries. While being a stay-at-home mother, was appointed in 1978 to the board of Taylorville P.L. Still there and still interested. Have served in all offices. Since 1971 have been an active member of both ILA and the incarnations of ISLMA, serving on several committees of each. Have belonged to ALA for 29 years. When serving on RPLS Board in 1980-86 was a trustee President for 3 yrs. As a school librarian served on the LLSAP Gov. Board and its Finance Comm. During this second year of current term on RPLS Board, am serving as Sect., and member of the IHLS Planning Panel and Transition Board.

James D. Matthews

Trustee, Mahomet Public Library

Public Library Trustee Representative

I was born in Detroit MIchigan and moved to Illinois in 1986 when I  began teaching at Illinois Wesleyan University where I am completing my 26th year of service as an Associate Professor of French, and where I have also served 7 1/2 years as Dean of Students during which I managed a multi-million dollar budget.  I volunteered to complete a term of service on the Board of Trustees for the Mahomet Public Library in 2007 as a way to give back to the community following the death of our 16-year old son in 2006.  John had special needs and the public library was one of the few public spaces in which he could function as well as his non-delayed peers.  I was elected to a full term on the Board in 2010. I have participated in two ballot referendums, the second of which secured funding for a new library in Mahomet.  I was actively involved in the planning and construction of the our new facility that opened in August 2010.  In my work as a college professor, I have come to understand that deficiencies in information literacy are among the greatest weaknesses students bring with them to higher education, and I have worked with librarians at IWU and in Mahomet to assist students and patrons in learning how to obtain the best information available. In an era of continuing economic challenge, the cultivation of human resources in library staff and directors must remain a high priority; contrary to popular belief, quality information does not retrieve itself. I very much enjoy serving as a trustee and would look forward to serving the people of Illinois.

Linda McDonnell

Six Mile Regional Library District

Public Library Trustee Representative

Linda McDonnell is Board of Trustees President for the Six Mile Regonal Library District located in Granite City, Illinois, as well President of the former Lewis & Clark Library System Board of Directors. As a retired elementary school teacher, I have always valued reading and access to information. My passion for libraries and the possibilities they offer their communities is evident in the hours I have devoted to my local library board, the former Lewis & Clark board, and the transition to the new system. I am honored to continue to advocate for libraries and all they offer as a board member of the Illinois Heartland Library System. I am very committed to the success of IHLS for the best interest of the people of Illinois.

Susan Mendelsohn

Board Treasurer, Glen Carbon Centennial Library

Public Library Trustee Representative

I have served for four plus years on the Glen Carbon Centennial Library Board as a Trustee; two years as Treasurer and one year as Vice president. During my tenure, I have participated on both the Personnel and Building Committee. I have also served two years on the Lewis and Clark Library System Board and held the position of Board Secretary this past year. I attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where I obtained an undergraduate degree in Accounting and two Masters in the area of Finance and Information Technology.

Joshua Mikeworth

Tolono Public Library District Trustee

Public Library Trustee Representative

Studying Architecture at the University of Illinois, I met my wife Tonya and together we have three children. After college I worked for a local municipality, working extensively with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. I also undertook the design of local parks, obtaining certifications through the National Recreation and Parks Association, the International Society of Arboriculture as a Certified Arborist and as a U of I Extension Master Gardener. Currently I work for the University of Illinois as a Housing Inspector. I have served on the Tolono Public Library District Board of Trustees for six years; two as President.

Anthony (Tony) Schuering

Trustee, Lincoln Library Springfield

Public Library Trustee Representative

Email: a.schuering@gmail.com

Aside from the Illinois Heartland Library System Board of Directors, Mr. Schuering is currently the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Springfield’s Lincoln Library, a position he has held since 2010. He is active in several community organizations in Springfield, while also pursuing a Political Science Degree at Lincoln Land Community College.

George Trammell

Trustee, Marion Public Library

Public Library Trustee

Phone: 618-997-6311  Email: grtram106@gmail.com

I have served as the President & CEO of the Marion Chamber of Commerce for the past 14 years. In that time I have also served as President of the Rotary Club of Marion, Marion Main Street, Marion Carnegie Library, and my church. I currently serve as treasurer of Marion Main Street, Southern Illinois Regional Chamber of Commerce Directors, Route #13 Marketing Committee, and my church. The Illinois Heartland Library System’s Transition Board of Directors has laid the frame work for the incoming board. Now it’s time for the new board to move the system forward is a way that is beneficial to all it’s members. I believe that my experience will allow me to help and am willing to serve in any role the board chooses.

Diane Steele

Wood River Public Library

Public Library Representative

Phone: 618-254-4832  Email: diane@woodriverlibrary.org

Elizabeth Letterly

Librarian, Williamsville CUSD #15

School Library Representative

Phone: 217-566-3361 ext. 235  Email: letterly@wcusd15.org

I am District Librarian/technology mentor for the Williamsville School District, serve on its District Leadership and Technology teams and coach high school Scholastic Bowl. I have been a librarian for about twenty years, completing my MLS from the University of Illinois in 1995, while working as a corrections librarian. Other interests include community activism and volunteering with the Logan County Humane Society. Of course, I love reading, lose time in my garden, am working not as diligently as I should on a nonfiction children's book, and cherish my family, especially our six grandchildren, the light of my life.

Jacob Roskovensky

Library Media Specialist, Charleston High School

School Library Representative

Phone: 217-887-2364 ext. 3233  Email: roskoihls@gmail.com

Jacob Roskovensky, High School Library Media Specialist for the Charleston Community Unit School District #1, earned his bachelors degree in Library Media Services K-12 from Indiana State University in 2006 and his master’s degree in Educational Instructional Media from Wilkes University in 2010. Jacob is a member of the Charleston Education Association and ISLMA. Jacob truly believes that powerful libraries do make powerful learners. He feels that each library in the multi-type system has a vital role, and should be a contributing member. Jacob appreciates all of the libraries; he works in a building with 788 students, but has served a building as large as 1,800 students and as small as 310 students. He has taught all grade levels in his career.  While he is proficient in the use of technology, he still sees the importance of social interaction and would enjoy hearing from anyone.

Betsy Mahoney

Librarian, Madison County Law Library

Special Library Representative

Phone: 618-296-5921  Email: bemahoney@co.madison.il.us

I love midcentury design, hockey, a good historical fiction, and Hoosier basketball…..oh and libraries, which is probably why you are reading this bio. I am the librarian at the Madison County Law Library in Edwardsville IL and a recent graduate of Indiana University’s School of Library and Information Science. I am thrilled to represent the 65 special library members in the Illinois Heartland System on the Board of Directors and meet the new challenges facing Illinois libraries and the systems.

Susan Tulis

Associate Dean for Information Services

Southern Illinois University (Morris Library)

Academic Library Representative

I have worked at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s (SIUC) Morris Library since January 2001. I began as the Government Documents Librarian and in 2002 became the Associate Dean for Information Services, which is my current position. I oversee all the public units/services at the library. From 1982 – 1997, I was the Government Documents Librarian at the University of Virginia’s Law Library. In 1992-1993, I served as the Assistant Washington Affairs Representative for the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) where I worked as a lobbyist for AALL. In April 2011 I was appointed to the Carbondale Public Library Board of Trustees.