2026 Membership Meeting Photos

Our annual membership meeting was held on Thursday, 29 January 2026 at Smithfield Public Library.

For more photos, find us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn @CacheLibraries.

2026 Annual Meeting

We would like to invite you to our annual business meeting. We’ll be introducing our 2026 Executive Committee and celebrating our 2026 Library Hero!

Thursday, January 29, 6:00 PM
Smithfield Public Library (25 N Main, Smithfield)

2026 Executive Committee

 We're pleased to announce our 2026 Executive Committee!

• President: Shawn Bliss (Smithfield Public Library)
• Vice President/President Elect: Emily Coltrin (Hyrum City Library)
• Past President: Anne Hedrich (Retired Academic Librarian)
• Secretary: Abbie Chesley (Cache County Library & USU Merrill-Cazier Library)
• Member at Large for Special/Academic Libraries: Shayna Hibbard (Logan Regional Hospital)

• Member at Large for Public Libraries: Michael Sauers (Logan Library)
• Member at Large for School Libraries: Kaye Gensel (Retired School Librarian)
• Member at Large for Paraprofessionals/Students: Moni Edwards (Logan Library)

Election for 2026 Executive Committee

All members should have received an email with a link to the ballot, which is open until the end of Mon, Dec 15. Please take a minute to vote for our 2026 leadership. 🗳️

Letter to the Cache County Council

31 October 2025

To the esteemed members of the Cache County Council:

The Cache Valley Library Association Executive Committee understands that the proposed defunding of the Cache County Library is a complex issue that has many implications, and we appreciate the time and effort that have been put into the budget recommendation. It is clear to us that Executive Daines has researched and thought about the issue at length, and CVLA also appreciates that Executive Daines is “in favor of public support for libraries,” as he wrote in his Library Recommendation document of October 15.

95% of Americans ages 16 and older agree that the materials and resources available at public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed, and 94% say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community.(1) Public libraries consistently rank as one of the most-trusted public institutions in the United States.(2) As Cache Valley library professionals, we recommend taking the following principles into consideration, no matter which outcome the Cache County Council ends up choosing:

Libraries are institutions that provide and protect deep-rooted American values:

Community

• In the age of artificial intelligence, there is an unprecedented need for both credible resources and human connection. Libraries provide both, and much more.
• Libraries are one of the few remaining public spaces that reflect community identity and defend the common good.
• Libraries offer a place for community groups to meet and collaborate, in casual and organized ways alike.

Fairness

• We believe it should be easy for residents to access both physical and digital library services, no matter where they live.
• Free library service for all users is a democratic value which provides equal access to many benefits:
• Learning and discovery
• Author readings
• Story times and other youth programs
• Reader’s guides
• Book clubs and social gatherings
• STEM education
• Access to technology such as printers, WiFi, computers, and maker tech
• Unique materials (telescope, headphones, tools)
• Libraries provide a healthy, safe environment for users of all ages and backgrounds.

Value

• Some government and community services are valuable enough that they should be funded by a broader base than those who use them (or use them most)—such as fire departments, schools, and public libraries.
• We recognize that the value of libraries is not necessarily obvious to all members of the public, so libraries are increasingly working to market their traditional and innovative services to potential users.
• Return-on-investment calculations vary, but they generally point to many times the amount invested; estimates place this figure at anywhere from $5 to $30 returned for each dollar spent on library services.(3)

The Cache Valley Library Association understands that the economic considerations guiding Executive Daines’ recommendations have multiple dimensions and deserve to be discussed with as much context as possible. Our goal in mentioning benefits of public libraries is to add to that complex discussion by reminding the Council and the public that protection of library service is a matter of prudent and practical governance. We thank you for your time and offer our professional expertise in any way that can be useful for your deliberations. In conclusion, we would like to share the words of George H. W. Bush:

“Libraries provide the kind of ongoing education that each man, woman, and child will need in order to remain a fully productive and fully participating citizen.”(4)

The Executive Committee of the Cache Valley Library Association



Sources:

(1) https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/

(2) https://www.aamchealthjustice.org/news/polling/trust-trends

(3) https://www.lrs.org/documents/closer_look/roi.pdf

(4) https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PPP-1992-book1/html/PPP-1992-book1-doc-pg400.htm

Annual Meeting

Please join us for our annual first meeting of the year. We'll be introducing our 2025 Executive Committee members, presenting our Library Hero award, and re-connecting with each other. Refreshments will be served.

Tue, Jan 7, 5:30 PM
Logan Library Community Room

2025 Executive Committee

 We're pleased to announce our 2025 Executive Committee!

• President: Anne Hedrich (USU Merrill-Cazier Library, retired)
• Vice President/President Elect: Shawn Bliss (Smithfield Public Library)
• Past President: Robert Heaton (EBSCO)
• Secretary: Jon Ramsten (Community Member)
• Academic Library Member at Large: Jen Kirk (USU Merrill-Cazier Library)
• Public Library Member at Large: Jessie Eiman (Mendon Library)
• School Library Member at Large: Kaye Gensel (Adams Elementary School)
• Library Student/Paraprofessional Member at Large: Moni Edwards (Logan Library)

2024 Annual Meeting

At our annual meeting on Tue, Jan 23 at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library, we introduced our 2024 Executive Committee, thanked our outgoing 2023 Executive Committee, announced our 2024 Library Hero Award recipient, and shared our personal histories with libraries. Thanks to all who attended.

Annual Meeting

 

Please join us for our annual first meeting of the year. We'll be introducing our 2024 Executive Committee members, presenting our 2024 Library Hero award, and getting to know each other. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.

Tue, Jan 23, 6:00 PM
USU Merrill-Cazier Library, room 101
(most USU parking doesn't require parking permits after 5:00 PM)

2024 CVLA Executive Committee

 Your 2024 CVLA Executive Committee members are:

☆ President: Robert Heaton, EBSCO

☆ Vice President: Anne Hedrich, USU Merrill-Cazier Library, retired

☆ Past President: Debbie Ogilvie, Logan Library

☆ Secretary: Breanna Van Dyke, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Member at Large (Academic/Special): Kacy Lundstrom, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Member at Large (Public): Karen Bowling, Smithfield Public Library

☆ Member at Large (School): Jan Jenson, Spring Creek Middle School Media Center

☆ Member at Large (Student/Paraprofessional): Abbie Chesley, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

2023 Annual Meeting

The CVLA board will be meeting at 5:30 PM in the Merrill-Cazier Library on Tuesday, January 31st in order to pass the gavel from Jennifer Duncan to Debbie Ogilvie. We'll provide a few snacks and an opportunity for visiting with colleagues before we kick off the new year.

Anyone wishing to park for up to two hours for free on campus should go to the Gateway Terrace (adjacent to the Performance Center on the East end of USU campus). Please contact Jennifer ahead of time for a parking validation code (jennifer.duncan@usu.edu).

Please help us welcome the new executive committee membership.

2023 CVLA Executive Committee

 Your 2023 CVLA Executive Committee members are:

☆ President: Debbie Ogilvie, Logan Library

☆ Vice President: Robert Heaton, EBSCO

☆ Past President: Jennifer Duncan, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Secretary: Breanna Van Dyke, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Member at Large (Academic/Special): Seth Westenburg, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Member at Large (Public) Lauri Hancey, Logan Library

☆ Member at Large (School): Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary

☆ Member at Large (Student/Paraprofessional): Heather Housley, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

Election for 2023

It's almost CVLA election time! Do you know someone who would make a great leader? Or someone who would like to serve on a committee? Is that person you?

We'll be looking to fill the following positions for next year:

 

►Vice President / President Elect

►Secretary

►Member at Large from an academic or specialty library background

►Member at Large from a public library background

►Member at Large from a school library background

►Member at Large from a student or paraprofessional background

 

To nominate yourself or someone else, email natalie.gregory@loganutah.org.

Bylaws Ammended

For Your Information: At our membership meeting on 26 May, the changes proposed by our Executive Committee to our bylaws were voted on and approved. Click here to review the current bylaws.

2022 CVLA Executive Committee

We realized that we did not publicly send out the election results. Your 2022 CVLA Executive Committee members are:

☆ President: Jennifer Duncan, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Vice President: Debbie Ogilvie, Logan Library

☆ Past President: Natalie Gregory, Logan Library

☆ Secretary: Jaylene Blair, Logan Library

☆ Member at Large (Academic/Special): Seth Westenburg, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

☆ Member at Large (Public) Morgan Capitan, Logan Library

☆ Member at Large (School): Jennie Little, Mount Logan Middle School

☆ Member at Large (Student/Paraprofessional): Heather Housley, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

10 Years of CVLA!

Join us Tue, Jan 11 at 4 PM at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library in Room 101 for a CVLA birthday party, presentation of the Library Hero Award, and introduction of our new Executive Committee! Bring a friend! Parking will be free! 🎉🎈

Important - Please Read

It's time to hold elections for the CVLA Executive Board for 2022. CVLA is a great place to meet other library minded people who stand for libraries everywhere!! We have a lot of fun and do amazing things in our community. It would be so great to have you on the exec board in 2022!

Please nominate yourself or someone else for the following positions:

• Vice President/President Elect (3 Year Commitment)
• Secretary (1 Year Commitment)
• Member at Large - 4 positions representing different types of libraries/library staff - Public, School, Academic, Student/Paraprofessional. (Each is a 1 Year Commitment)

Please let your fellow coworkers know we are seeking nominations for election to the Executive Board! Send nominations to cachelibraries@gmail.com.

As you're thinking of amazing library service workers, we are also seeking nominations for our upcoming Library Hero Award. Nominations can be made via email, or this online form: https://forms.gle/CT7XAmyXPdQ2NNUZA. For additional information visit cachelibraries.blogspot.com/p/library-heroes.html.

Thanks so much! We are looking forward to hearing from you!!!

Business Meeting and Kahoot Activity

 Come join us for our a general meeting introducing and confirming the 2021 Executive Board, then having a Kahoot competition afterwards (if you don't know what that is, just know, it's fun). Because the meeting will be hosted via Zoom, you are welcome to include anyone in your household.

If you aren't on our email list and would like the Zoom link and passcode, send an email to cachelibraries@gmail.com, and we can get the information to you.

Hope to see you Wednesday!

And, drumroll please.....here is your 2020 CVLA Executive Committee:

President Elect:

Natalie Gregory, Logan Library

Secretary:

Robert Heaton, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

Member at Large Public:

Hollie Dabb, Logan Library

Member at Large School:

Bonnie Odd, Ridgeline High School

Member at Large Academic:

Andrea Payant, USU Merrill-Cazier Library

Member at Large Paraprofessional/Student:

Brynnan Sainsbury, Cache County Library

Congratulations All!

Here is your 2019 CVLA Executive Board!

President:

Sarah Rigby, Newton Town Library

Past President:

Dory Rosenberg, Merrill-Cazier Library, USU

Vice President/President Elect:

Karen Clark, Logan Library

Secretary:

Robert Heaton, Merrill-Cazier Library, USU

Members at Large:

Andrea Payant, Merrill-Cazier Library, USU (Academic/Special)

Frankie Urrutia Smith, Logan Library (Public)

Vaughn Larson, Edith Bowen Laboratory School Library (School)

Hollie Dabb, Logan Library (Student/Paraprofessional)