THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Dale is the foundation's database pro, cheerfully and precisely maintaining foundation records. A former computer programmer at IBM, Dale now splits his time between the foundation, his work as a massage therapist and his passion for writing prose and poetry. Dale has a working knowledge of at least eight languages, including Old Norse and Old English, and he is able to identify almost all of the constellations in the northern hemisphere. He recently published his latest work, Opening The World.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Belmont

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WHY THE LIBRARY:

"All those wonderful books, all that learning and thinking, all those stories and songs—so much of what people have ever made that's worth keeping—all right there, free to all finders. That's amazing."

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  he | him | his

Laura’s roots in fundraising in our community are deep and her passion for the work of non-profits is boundless. She has dedicated her professional life to building thriving fundraising programs for a broad range of organizations from performing arts to the environment. The exceptional programming made possible by The Library Foundation furthers her desire to serve humanity and improve our community.

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In her spare time, you can find her running the trails of Forest Park or perhaps running after her bright-eyed, young daughter. Her avid baking far outpaces her household's baked good consumption, and if you have the time she will detail endlessly her failures as a gardener. No, seriously.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Central

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WHY THE LIBRARY:

"Centuries of humankind’s greatest thinking, recorded in beautiful volumes, and an army of helpful people who want nothing more than to help you take them away. Multnomah County Library is tirelessly committed to serving our community’s needs, whatever and wherever they are. The idea of a library seems wildly and wholly improbable, but it’s us at our best."

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  she | her | hers

Kelley considers herself to be very lucky - she grew up with not one, but two library cards. The first, issued by her neighborhood library, held a place of honor in her childhood wallet for many years. The other card allowed her access to books halfway across the globe, when she visited her grandmother in Japan. Kelley credits this liberal access to libraries in both countries for her nascent fervor for reading in both Japanese and English.

 

Aside from the time she spends working and reading, you’d be lucky to catch a glimpse of Kelley standing still. An avid cyclist who spent years mentoring young riders through community cycling programs, she also loves camping in the Pacific Northwest and cultivating vegetables in her garden at home.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
St. Johns

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WHY THE LIBRARY:

"I hold a special place in my heart for each library I have frequented in my life. The unique spaces and programming options available to everyone in our community, regardless of age, cultural or financial background, are an important step toward equal footing for all humans."

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  she | her | hers

A diehard non-profit devotee, Jamie has been actively involved for many years with arts, culture and educational organizations, including Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Center for the Performing Arts and Conduit Dance. Her experience in financial management and fundraising makes her well-suited to her multi-faceted job as the foundation’s operations director.

 

In her off-time, Jamie can be found working on an always-expanding list of house projects, bicycling, growing food, and—most importantly—reading to her energetic young son.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Sellwood-Moreland

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WHY THE LIBRARY:

“I could give you a detailed description of every single neighborhood library that I ever called 'my own'- and there have been many of them over the years. Growing up, we moved often, and I always found the library to be the one safe, constant place that was full of promise and knowledge. Libraries have had a profound impact on my belief in the value of education and access of information.”

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  she | her | hers

As an endlessly curious person and a voracious reader, Alyssa has always adored libraries. They credit their experience in stage management for their endless supply of good humor and ability to build meaningful connections with our donor base. They are inspired to spend their days supporting the library’s work across our community.

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Alyssa spends time outside the office camping deep in the forest, tending to pet chickens, and relaxing on the porch with a graphic novel.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Gregory Heights

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WHY THE LIBRARY:
“When I was young, I realized that my desire for reading books would always be greater than my budget for buying books. Public libraries offer unparalleled abundance and freedom. What a gift!”

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  they | she

Helping others access information has been a lifelong pursuit for Jennifer. With more than 20 years of experience writing and editing in the nonprofit sector, much of which has been focused on proposal development, Jennifer has a unique understanding of how best to communicate the needs of our community to the foundations that support our work. Her curiosity and passion for libraries began in high school, when she volunteered with the Jackson County Library. Ensuring that library services are inclusive and valued throughout the community strikes a particularly meaningful chord with her, and drives her work with the foundation. 

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Jennifer is a formidable seamstress, and can often be seen wearing her own creations. She commutes to work on foot, watching the city stir to life as she makes her way over the Hawthorne Bridge.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Belmont

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WHY THE LIBRARY:

“My initial ties to the library were books, but now I also love that libraries are such a vital community hub. I can’t think of a more responsive institution, committed to helping every person access the information and services they need, but also to finding ways to serve the community on a large scale.”

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  she | her | hers

As the foundation's energetic leader, Merris brings strategic vision and a passion for libraries, literacy and the arts to our work. She has been recognized for her strategic leadership, vision and advocacy for our library by the Portland Business Journal as Nonprofit Executive of the Year, and by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation with their Creative Leadership Award. 

Merris first moved to Portland as a VISTA volunteer, founded two nonprofits and then worked around the world, advising multinational technology companies on developing brands, designing products and communications. For the last 20 years, she has dedicated her expertise to the library system and the community she loves. In her spare time, you can find her browsing the stands at the farmer's market, dancing Cajun and Zydeco or bushwhacking to catch a glimpse of a rare and beautiful bird. 

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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY:
Central

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WHY THE LIBRARY:
"Self-sufficiency is one of my core values. I have always believed that if we give people the tools, everyone has a desire to improve themselves, grow and understand the world around them. We would live in a more peace-loving world if reading was a part of everyone's daily life."

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PREFERRED PRONOUNS:  she | her | hers