The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees welcomes Steve Albers, as a new Trustee, to help bring valued library services to communities throughout the county.
“Steve’s business background will bring the Board strong financial knowledge,” said Gene Matsusaka, chair of the Board of Trustees. “His experience managing a company and commitment to community service will be a tremendous asset to the Board, as the Library continues to respond to the challenge that our revenues are not keeping up with the costs to run the libraries.”
Albers, a Lakewood resident and president of Albers & Company, a workforce management company serving clients throughout Western Washington, has and currently serves many community organizations. For 11 years, Albers was on the Pierce County Library Foundation Board of Directors. Recently, he helped raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club and United Way of Pierce County. He has served in Sunrise Rotary, American Leadership Forum and City Club of Tacoma.
“I have a strong interest in education to help improve our community,” said Albers. “I see the Library as a means of providing early learning and the advancement of general literacy. I am also interested in the community connection that libraries offer to help build communities. I look forward to helping meet the challenge for more creative ways to deliver services in efficient, effective and meaningful manners.”
Albers will be part of a five-member board with policy and fiscal responsibility to provide library services and programs to the 534,000 people in the Library System’s 1,600 square mile service area. The board’s responsibilities include:
· Adopting policies to operate the Library System and provide services.
· Approving and monitoring the Library’s annual budget and ongoing fiscal health.
· Planning for future services.
· Hiring the executive director and evaluating performance.
The Library System is not a part of Pierce County government. By state law, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy appointed Albers and the Pierce County Council ratified the appointment. An interview panel of current Board of Trustees and other Pierce County residents facilitated the application process for the Pierce County Executive’s Office.
Other Library Board of Trustees include Gene Matsusaka, chair; J.J. McCament; Allen Rose and Budd Wagner. Trustees are non-paid positions and may be appointed for five-year terms and serve up to two consecutive terms.