Birmingham Public Library Board

The Birmingham Public Library Board was established in 1913 to oversee the assets and operations of the Birmingham Public Library system. It was a successor to the Birmingham Public Library Association, organized in 1908.

Under current city ordinance, the Birmingham City Council appoints nine members to the board for 5-year terms. In addition, the president of the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library sits on the board as an advisory (non-voting) member. Members are not compensated for their service, but can be reimbursed for approved travel relating to board business.

Board members

1913

J. W. Donnelly, president; W. C. Gewin; D. M. Lewis; Thomas Duke Parke; Mrs E. L. Smith; Mrs J. M. Hankins; Lily Lykes; E. E. Smith; Mrs R. DuPont Thompson

1937

J. W. Donnelly, president; W. H. Manly, vice president; W. O. Downs, city commissioner; Samuel Earle, Mrs J. L. Smith, Maud Kelly, Mrs R. DuPont Thompson, Herbert Tutwiler, W. W. Walker Sr

1958

Paul Huffstuttler, Emilu Bailes, Charles Cooper, Harwell Davis, Mrs L. S. Evins, Mrs J. L. Smith, Ormond Somerville, Mervyn Sterne

1962

Mervyn Sterne, president; Ormand Somerville, vice-president; Mrs George Bailes, Charles Cooper, Harwell Davis, Paul Huffstuttler, Mrs J. L. Smith, W. W. Walker Jr

1963

W. W. Walker Jr, president; Mrs George Bailes, vice president; Harwell Davis, Edwin Phillips; Mrs A. H. Hoyle; W. W. McDuffie; Ormand Somerville, Paul Huffstuttler

1970

Mervyn Sterne, president; Ormand Somerville, vice-president; Harwell Davis; Mrs A. H. Hoyle; Paul Huffstuttler; Mrs Alex Wellman; W. W. McDuffie; Bessie Estell; W. W. Walker Jr; Frank Peake (County Advisory Board)

1981

Don Long, president; Lucille Ayers, Alan Drennen, William Forbes, James Goodson, Marie Jemison, Ed LaMonte, Josie Reid

1984

• Don Long, president; Addine Drew, vice president; Lucille Ayers, Geraldine Bell, Alan Drennen Jr, Ralph Fletcher, William Forbes, James Goodson, Benn Johnson, Edward LaMonte, Josie Reid

2002

• Gwendolyn Welch (1st term)

2008

• Gwendolyn Welch, chair
• Nell Allen, vice-president
• Shanta Craig Owens, parliamentarian
• Anthony Johnson (1st term)
• Lillie Fincher

2014

Gwendolyn Amamoo, president; Georgia Morgan Blair, vice-president; Gwendolyn Guster Welch, immediate past president, Scott Vowell, parliamentarian, Monique Gardner-Witherspoon, Patty Pilkerton, Kimberly Richardson; Sam Rumore Jr; Dora Sims; Katrina Watson; Regina Ammon (Advisory Board Member); Johnathan Austin (Council Education Chair), Kamilah Gray-Lewis (Council President's Representative), Courtney Hunter (Council President's Representative), Tyrone Silman (Mayor's Representative)

2016

Kimberly Richardson, president; Gwendolyn Amamoo, immediate past president & parliamentarian; Georgia Morgan Blair, vice-president; Willie Davis III, Patty Pilkerton; Eunice Rogers; Dora Sims; James Sullivan; Scott Vowell; Gwendolyn Guster Welch, Regina Ammon (Advisory Board Member), Tyrone Silmon (Mayor's Representative)

2017

• Georgia Morgan Blair (2002-2018), president
• James Sullivan (2016-2021), vice president
• Scott Vowell (2011-2020), parliamentarian
• Gwendolyn Amamoo (2006-2018)
• Willie Davis III (2016-2020)
• Kimberly Richardson (2013-2022)
• Eunice Rogers (2016-2020)
• Dora Sims
• Gwendolyn Welch
• Tyrone Silmon, Mayor's representative

2018

• James Sullivan (2016-2021), president
• Gwendolyn Amamoo (2006-2018), vice president
• Scott Vowell (2011-2020), parliamentarian
• Wardine Alexander (April-October 2018)
• Fatima Carter (January 2018-2021)
• Willie Davis III (2016-2020)
• Sherri Nielson (April 2018-2021)
• Kimberly Richardson (2013-2022)
• Eunice Rogers (2016-2020)

2022

• Kimberly Richardson
• Lynn Flowers-Martin (2019–2027)
• Mona Lisa Morris (2019–2023)
• Jermaine Johnson (2022–2026)
• Yolanda Hardy( 2022–2025)
• John Lyons Jr (2022–2025)
• Willie Davis III (2016–2025)
• Yawntreshia Coleman (2022–2026)
• R. Jordan Davis (2022–2026)

2024

• Willie Davis III, president (2016–2025)
• John Lyons Jr, vice president (2022–2025)
• Yawntreshia Coleman (2022–2026)
• R. Jordan Davis (2022–2026)
• Lynn Flowers-Martin (2019–2027)
• Yolanda Hardy (2022–2025)
• Jermaine Johnson (2022–2026)
• Mona Lisa Morris (2019–2023)
• Dana Woodruff (2023–2027)

References

• "Walker Will Head Board" (January 11, 1963) Birmingham Post-Herald - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Hedgepeth, Lee (January 31, 2022) "‘Funnymaine’ set to take seat on Birmingham library board." cbs42.com

External links

• Library Board at bplonline.org