Our trustees serve five-year terms. The year in parentheses below represents the year their term expires. Interested in joining our board, or have a question for our trustees? Please email cortlandfreelibrary@gmail.com.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? I have fond memories of riding my bike to my hometown library in the 60s, spending hours browsing and picking just the right books to read that week, and then racing home, eager to begin reading. Years later as I was nearing retirement, I was thinking of how I might give back to the Cortland community. When I got a call asking if I’d be interested in becoming a library trustee, I thought that would be an excellent way to show my appreciation for public libraries and hopefully play a small role in helping others to enjoy their local library and reading.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? After having served as President of the Board of Trustees for the past 5 years (2017 - 2021), I now have a new role as Secretary. My main responsibilities are to conduct the correspondence of the Board of Trustees and keep accurate minutes. As Secretary, I am also part of the Executive Committee. As a trustee, I run Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and help keep the library’s new Book Shoppe stocked.
What’s your background? I have a BA in Education-Secondary German and an AAS degree in Data Processing. I taught German at Binghamton East Junior and North High Schools for 3 years, was a stay at home mom for 7 years, was a computer programmer, applications analyst and IT project manager at NYSEG for 22 years, a data analyst for Cornell University’s Division of Financial Affairs for 5 years, and the Course Curriculum Coordinator at the SUNY Cortland College Store for 3 years.
What else should we know about you? Married to my college sweetheart for 44 years, proud mother of two and “grammy” to three wonderful children. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, doing the daily crossword puzzle and sudoku, and trying new recipes.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library?
We are an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an early literacy program that mails monthly books directly to the homes of children under the age of 5 who live with a parent or guardian in zip code 13045. This program is offered at no cost to families. We are currently providing books to over 600 children every month!
Also, in 2021, we started a used Book Shoppe in the elevator foyer--providing our patrons with another way to find and enjoy books and other materials.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I just finished Edward Rutherford's New York: The Novel, historical fiction that spans from 1664 through 2009. Next up is A Square of Sky, a memoir by Janina David, who was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust in Poland.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? Our entire family has enjoyed the library over the years and becoming a trustee offers me the opportunity to give back to the library in a meaningful way.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? I currently serve as President and am a member of the Long Range Planning committee and the Marketing/Development/Grants committee.
What’s your background? Originally from Baldwinsville, NY, I received my BA from Gettysburg College and have enjoyed a career in marketing, fundraising and writing.
What else should we know about you? My husband and his family are originally from Cortland so our three children are the third generation to enjoy the library. We love sports, spending time with family and exploring new places.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? I’m especially grateful for the inter-library loan opportunities as well as the use of Overdrive for electronic borrowing. I also enjoy utilizing spaces in the library when I need a quiet place to work, research and write!
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I just finished Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and am listening to Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. I’m looking forward to when my hold request is ready for Sue Monk Kidd’s latest book, The Book of Longings.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? Lee Taylor asked me….reason enough! 
However, with 2 young daughters we used the library often. I have great respect for Warren S. Eddy who was the director. And it was an opportunity to be involved in an important part of Cortland’s life and work with talented board members.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? Member of personnel committee, chair of nominating committee, member of executive committee.
What’s your background? Raised in Maine, NY; Graduate of Eastman School of Music; University of Rochester; pipe organ, public school music majors. Work history: teacher of junior high general music; church organist; director of children’s choirs and handbell choirs.
What else should we know about you? Favorite place is the St Lawrence River with my family.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? The ease with which I can get and read all sorts of books (now that I am retired and have more time to read.) I love seeing how much money I save by borrowing instead of buying (and waiting for delivery) when the CFL prints the book receipt!
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? Reading several books that my 12 year old grandson is reading also: Holes by Louis Sachar. Also, just revisited Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I enjoy anything set in England.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? I was asked by Diane Ames to be on the board. I thought it was an honor to be thought of as capable of serving.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? I am on the finance committee and serve as treasurer. The committee is responsible for proposing the budget for the library and monitoring the income and expenses of the library
What’s your background? I'm a veterinarian with a practice in Cortland and have been here for 43 years. I'm also in the Cortland Rotary club and our family has hosted 3 foreign exchange students.
What else should we know about you? I like to fly fish for trout and bass and tie my own flies. My wife and I have 3 grandchildren.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? Over the past 15 years the library has undergone a lot of changes, from funding, facility improvements, to gaining a children's librarian, to computerization. We are fortunate to have such an active and committed board.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I am reading a nonfiction book by Jeff Shaara, A Blaze of Glory. Olen Steinhauer's The Last Tourist was a good fiction novel.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? I joined the Board of Trustees because our library is an important cornerstone of our community. It's a place for young and old to explore and learn. I feel it is important to advocate for the library to continue to improve and offer area residents the resources they need.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? Currently I serve on the Marketing committee and as board co-liaison with the Friends of the Library group.
What’s your background? I worked at the Cortland Standard for many years as Advertising Manager, retiring in 2018. I was a past president of the Cortland Downtown Partnership and also served as a board member and president of the New York Newspapers Advertising and Marketing Executives.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? When our children were young we always looked forward to our trips to the library and story time. At other times since the library was an easy walk from my workplace, I enjoyed the tranquility and quiet while browsing the book selections and thumbing through pages of interesting books.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? Currently reading All that She Carried by Tiya Miles.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? Cortland Free Library is integral to the vitality of our community, and I want to give of my talents and experiences to help the library continue to meet the needs of those whom it serves.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? I am a member of the Board of Trustees. I chair the Development and Marketing committee, and also serve on the Nominating committee.
What’s your background? I have always been a bookworm--I was the child who came to the library, borrowed as many books as I could carry, and was back again the next week looking to borrow more. Now as an adult, I still love to read. I enjoy using my background in marketing and communications to be of service to the library.
What else should we know about you? I'm an avid runner and skier. I also love taking my dogs for walks, and, unsurprisingly, reading.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? I love how the library is not only a place to check out books, but how it is truly a community hub. The library provides so many services, not just books--from audiobooks and books in Braille to services to help learn a foreign language, and also as a place to do research on a new topic, look at local history, study for a new profession, get help with finding and applying for jobs, do your taxes, and more. CFL is a home for books and always will be, but more than that, it's a place where so many other needs in the community can be met.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I'm currently reading Dave Grohl's memoir The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, as well as looking for a new sci-fi series to start.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? When I was asked to be on the board I felt it was the right time in my life to give something back to the Cortland community. It’s a good fit for me because of my education and passion for information and literature.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? I’m on the Personnel and Technology committees.
What’s your background? I grew up in Potsdam, NY. I have a BA in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam and a Masters in Library Science from The University at Albany. I’m certified as a K-6 teacher, Library Media Specialist and Public Librarian. I’m the Library Media Specialist at the Cortland Jr. Sr. High School.
What else should we know about you? I’ve lived and worked in Cortland for 25 years. My husband Chris and I have two teenage boys; Ben & Ethan and our dog Clayton. I enjoy watching my boys play sports. I’m a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of American and I love to do beading.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? I love all the creative programs the library has for youth and young adults. Tammy [our Youth Services Librarian] has so much enthusiasm and passion for children’s literature and you can feel that when you enter the children’s room.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? Because I’m a librarian I’m always reading/listening to a variety of literature. I love reading historical fiction and I’ve gotten into graphic novels as that is a fast growing lit format for children and teens. My “go to” TV programs are anything on HGTV and all the Law & Order series.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? When I was on city council (1995-2003) the library was in my ward and as the daughter and granddaughter of librarians I recognize the importance of the library to our quality of life. I attended the board meetings while on the city council and was asked to join the board in 2004.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? Since I have been involved with the board for so long I think I provide some institutional memory for newer members of the board. I served as treasurer for a number of years and still serve on the finance and personnel committees.
What’s your background? Growing up I lived all over the northeast, moving every few years. I graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in economics, worked for a couple of years and earned an MBA in finance from Cornell business school. I worked for IBM and GE for a number of years and when my husband, daughter and I moved to Cortland I spent time as a volunteer and became involved in local politics, all of which led to my involvement with Cortland Free Library.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? The main reading room is my favorite spot, especially since I know how much work went into upgrading and refurbishing (and paying for!) the room.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I am currently re-reading Lindsey Davis’ series about Flavia Albia, a Roman widow and informer in the first century AD. The character is the adopted daughter of the protagonist of an earlier series who was also an informer.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? Somewhere along the line I learned that, in addition to charitable giving, one way to give back to the community and institutions I care about is to join a non-profit board. Though I’m originally from Rochester, my wife Lisa and I settled here in 1988 and raised our family here. As such, we’ve both lived by that idea: She’s been on the YWMC board, headed the Cortland City School Board, among others--and I’ve headed up the Lime Hollow Board, the Cortland Rural Cemetery Board, and now am on the Cortland Free Library board. All because we care about the community and believe with our hearts that these institutions are important.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? Because I have past board experience and also have spent my career in marketing and advertising, I gravitated toward and became chair of the Marketing/Development/Grants and Long Range Planning committees. In 2022, I became Board President.
What’s your background? I have a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing, from SUNY New Paltz with a semester in London. Career-wise, that means I almost became a high-school English teacher--actually did graduate studies here at SUNY Cortland, did my student teaching at CHS, and earned some work-study cash by working in the SUNY Cortland Library’s periodicals department--but then veered into advertising, where I’ve either been an ad executive or worked on the client-side as a marketing manager.
What else should we know about you? In our house, there’s a lot of love for the 1000 Islands, France, food, wine, reading, history, politics. I also enjoy the outdoors (i.e., hiking, birding a little) and obsessively walking my dog around campus.
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? As an adult, it’s just a pleasant place to spend time…I love being surrounded by books and magazines. I also love the Youth Services department, as I used to bring my kids there every two weeks when they were little. We’d leave each time with these enormous stacks of books that we’d all read together in bed.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? Hard copy: Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey series (for the third time). On my Kindle, I’m reading a biography of John Quincy Adams. I LOVE, just love history and biographies these days, with smatterings of fiction as a nod to how I got my start in English.
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? When I was a young boy, I spent many years in the Cortland Free Library. I always felt comfortable there and I loved being surrounded by all those books. So when I was asked to be a member of the Board of Trustees it seemed like things had come full circle for me, helping this wonderful library in even a small way.
What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? As a board member I also serve as a liaison to the Friends of the Library. I also enjoy volunteering for any activities or events that I can throughout the year.
What’s your background? I was born and raised in Cortland, a wonderful community that has given my family so much. I own and operate Riccardi Funeral Home in Cortland and currently serve as Cortland County Coroner. I graduated from Cortland High School and the Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Inc.
What else should we know about you? My favorite thing to do is spend time with my 3 wonderful grandchildren. I am so proud of all 3 of them. I also enjoy NBA Basketball and LeBron James and I am a HUGE NY Jets Fan!
What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? There are many things to like about our library, but for me, I would say its our incredible staff, from our Director Jen to our Children's Room Librarian Miss Tammy and all those behind the desk who do a wonderful job at helping all our visitors have an enjoyable library experience.
What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I am currently reading A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Myron Walter
(2025)
Why did you decide to join CFL’s Board of Trustees? I was asked by another CFL Trustee if I would be interested in joining the Board. After getting over my initial reaction (“What in the world are they thinking?") I said I would love to be a member of the Board. What’s your role on the board? What are your responsibilities? I am presently on the Technology and the Building and Grounds Committees. What’s your background? I am presently mostly retired. I previously was an electrical contractor, Manager of Electrical Engineering at Tetra-Tech A&E, and Senior Engineer at Taitem Engineering. I have lived within 10 miles of my birthplace in Cortland my entire life (so far). What else should we know about you? I am proud to say that I have been married to my wife, Priscilla, for 47 years, and have two daughters, Christine and Sarah. What’s your favorite thing about the library/something people should know about the library? The one thing I would like people to know about the Cortland Free Library is how dedicated the employees of the library are to serving the Cortland community. What are you currently reading/watching/listening to? I have been continuously reading NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code for about 50 years now. Fascinating book, I don’t want to give away the ending, but I will say that it raises more questions than it answers.
John Whittleton
(2022)