Title
Recognizing the service of Beth Burns as the City of Saint Paul's representative to the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)'s Board of Trustees.
Body
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) is governed by joint powers library board of trustees with one trustee appointed to the board by each party to the agreement; and
WHEREAS, the MELSA Board of Trustees includes one representative from Anoka County, Dakota County, Carver County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, The City of Saint Paul, Scott County and Washington County; and
WHEREAS, the Board is responsible for setting strategic direction, goals and policies, approving the budget, providing oversight to the organization and advocating for public libraries through the recommendations of the MELSA Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, Beth Burns has served as the City of Saint Paul’s representative to the MELSA Board of Trustees since January 2017; and has served as the Board Treasurer since 2022; and
WHEREAS, in her role as MELSA treasurer, she led and championed a new equity-focused budget allocation formula for member libraries that reflects the evolving role of libraries; and
WHEREAS, Beth’s passionate and strategic advocacy for Saint Paul Public Library and all public libraries has made her a trusted, experienced voice on the MELSA Board; and
WHEREAS, her close partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library Director assures the unique needs and interests of the City of Saint Paul’s libraries are reflected in decisions that affect the broader region.
Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul recognizes the important service that Beth Burns has provided to MELSA over the past nine years and thanks her on behalf of the City of Saint Paul City Council and Library Board and look forward to her continued leadership as the President of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.