Library Insights Board

Rachel Galvin

Rachel Galvin has dedicated the past 15 years to the Sibley Public Library in Sibley, Iowa. She plans engaging programs for a wide range of ages, builds strong partnerships through community outreach, and provides thoughtful readers’ advisory services to young patrons. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Public Relations, and Art from Coe College, bringing creativity to her book displays, programming, and promotional efforts. She served seven years on the Youth Services Advisory Council for the State Library of Iowa, helping to plan conferences and continuing education opportunities for library professionals across the state. Her leadership and commitment to literacy were recognized in 2018 when she received the Celebrate Literacy Award from the Iowa Reading Association. 

Jessica Bach

 With more than two decades in education—including roles as a Reading Recovery teacher, classroom teacher, and parent educator—she is recognized for her leadership in literacy instruction and systems improvement. Jessica has presented at national and regional conferences, contributed research to the textbook Fostering Resilience in Young Children At Risk for Failure, and was twice named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Columbia Public Schools. She has led districtwide initiatives to strengthen Tier II and Tier III intervention systems, designed the “Stop the Summer Slide” program, and founded the school’s Book Swap Program that distributes thousands of free books annually. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a literacy focus from the University of Missouri, along with multiple K–12 certifications. Jessica is passionate about early literacy, equitable access to books, and building sustainable systems that empower teachers. Outside of work, she enjoys tent camping in National Parks, all things Disney, and traveling with her husband and three daughters.

Timothy (Tim) Montgomery

Tim Montgomery is the current Library-Media Technician for Scandia Elementary School, located on Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. In his role, Tim oversees circulation, cataloging, and inventory management of library materials and curriculum. He collaborates closely with teachers and staff to support instructional goals, prepare materials, and integrate technology and media resources into the classroom. He maintains a safe, inclusive library space where curiosity and creativity are encouraged. As a member of the school's Awards Committee, Tim has organized the school's reading awards for each trimester, and oversees the operations of the program for teachers and staff. In addition to the Awards Committee, Tim is the school's Book Fair Chairperson that organizes and operates the site's biannual Book Fairs to benefit the library. 
 

Savannah Russett

Savannah Russett serves as the campus librarian at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas. In her time as librarian, she has been committed to curating an inclusive collection, as well as providing a place where students can find respite, a place to work, and opportunities to create and explore. Savannah earned her MLIS from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and both her MS in Curriculum and Instruction and BA in English from Texas A&M University. She is an active member of the Texas Library Association, where she stays connected to evolving standards in library science and student advocacy.

Rachel Anne Mencke

Rachel Anne Mencke is the Director of the Library at the Park School in Brookline, Massachusetts. She is a teacher-librarian with 14 years' experience in school libraries from Bahrain to Los Angeles. A career highlight was serving on the 2025 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee. She is the author of the visual literacy chapter in the 2024 book We Can Teach That: Information Literacy for School Librarians. Over the last decade, Rachel Anne has strengthened her practice by working as a book reviewer for School Library Journal, serving as a peer reviewer for The New Review of Children's Literature and Librarianship, and participating in ALA's International Librarian Networking Program through the IRRT. Rachel Anne is an alumna of the University of Chicago and of the University of Illinois GSLIS. She is passionate about storytelling, folklore, visual storytelling, and information literacy. When she is not reading or tinkering in the library makerspace, Rachel Anne can be found knitting compulsively, exploring the Boston area, and daydreaming of adventure travel.
 

Sarah Pellerin

Sarah Pellerin is a 20-year veteran educator, currently serving as the Library Media Specialist at Dent Middle School in Columbia, SC. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary English and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. She is an active member of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians and serves as the vice-chair of the SC Young Adult Book Award Committee. Sarah is passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces and programming for her students. Outside of the library, she enjoys discovering new storytellers and their stories, whether they be on the page, stage, or screen.

Rebecca Campbell

Rebecca Campbell serves as Library Director for the City of Tavares Public Library. With more than 20 years of experience in public libraries, she brings both frontline and administrative leadership to her role. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to fostering strong community connections, supporting professional excellence, and championing the vital role libraries play in civic life. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her professional service includes serving as a member of the American Library Association Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee (2018–2021) and as a judge for the Florida Book Awards in the Florida Nonfiction category. A former children’s librarian, Rebecca’s career has been grounded in a deep love of children’s literature and the joy of reading for pleasure. 

Anni West LaPrise

After receiving an MLS at Indiana University in December of 1985, Anni West Laprise has been a children's librarian since. She worked in Maumee, OH, and Detroit, MI, for the first 16 years of her career. In Detroit, she was also an assistant branch manager while wearing the hat of being the lone children's librarian. While there, she was awarded the Spirit of Detroit award by the city council in recognition of her service to the community, both in the library and in the neighborhoods around where she was living. She has been a district librarian at Huron School District and Cornerstone Education Group network librarian since, with a brief stop between as the prison librarian at London Correctional Institute in London, Ohio. Her specialty since she got to Michigan is creating libraries that turn kids into readers and lifelong learners, whether in public library branches or school libraries.

Beth Olshewsky

As LACOE Library Services Manager, Beth Olshewsky honors her deep commitment to promoting equity, social and emotional wellness, and literacy in all forms through transformative school library programs and services. With over 35 years as an educational leader, she has served as a teacher, teacher-librarian, and administrator, working at site, district, and county office levels. Driven by a passion for supporting students' love and capacity for reading and inquiry, Beth thrives on cultivating inclusive library learning environments, programs, and services where every student can flourish and develop fluency in literacy (information literacy, digital literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, science literacy, civic literacy, and more). She holds a Masters in Education from Loyola University Maryland and a Masters in Library and Information Sciences from San Jose State University. 

Jean Gritter

Jean Gritter, a high school and school district librarian in Albany, Oregon, has been an educator for 30 years and a teacher-librarian for over a decade. She is passionate about building library collections in which every student can see themselves and also broaden their views of the world. Jean holds Master’s degrees in both English Literature and Education, a teaching license endorsement in K-12 Library Media, and an Oregon School Administrator’s license. She is an active board member of the Oregon Association of School Libraries, and has served as the OASL Advocacy Chair for a number of years. She was named 2023 Oregon Secondary Librarian of the Year, and received the President’s Award from the Oregon Library Association in 2025.