Board of Library Trustees

The Somerville Public Library Board of Trustees is a governing body of the Somerville Public Library that supports the Library's long-range planning, advocacy, public relations, and outreach efforts.

The Trustees are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. They usually meet on the second Wednesday of each month (except in July and August) at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Director’s office at the Central Library and are open to the public.

Contact Information

spltrustee@gmail.com

Address

79 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02145
United States

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Employee Directory

Members

Kate Van Sleet, President: Kate was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 2007 and has served on the Board in various capacities, including as President, Secretary, and Chair of numerous working committees. She is a passionate advocate for literacy both in her professional life as a librarian for public media and in her volunteer work for the Library Trustees, Library Foundation, and the Somerville Public Schools. Kate, her husband, and her three daughters have happily called Somerville home for over 20 years.
Janaki Perera, Vice President: Janaki is a book lover and an avid library user. She joined the board in 2022 and is excited to give back to Somerville by helping the library. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing board games, making music, and entertaining her two cats.
April Kuehnhoff, Secretary: April is a dedicated library patron who currently calls the Central branch her "home" library. She has been a Trustee since 2020.
Ami Feldman: As an educator and mother of two children, Ami has been a frequent patron of the Somerville Public Library. She joined the Board in 2021 and is excited to be an active community member through the library.
Carla Lillvik: A Trustee since 2020, Carla loves all things free and public, especially the Somerville Public Library. She served on the board of the Friends, was an inaugural volunteer of the ELL program, and raised her daughter in the children's room at Central. During the pandemic, she walked every street in Somerville and fell in love all over again with the city she's called home since 1997.
Ananda Thiagarajan: Ananda joined the board of trustees in 2024. She grew up in India and has lived in Somerville since 2015. She is an avid reader and a photographer. She displayed her street photography in the Central library in June 2023. Her favorite activities include visiting the children's rooms in the Central and East libraries with her son, reading, Wordle, photography, and volunteering. She is a volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister of MA, Somerville Asian Family Network, Arlington EATS, Somerville Community Growing Center, and Be My Eyes to name a few. Along with her son and husband, she loves tasting various cuisines that Somerville has to offer.

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Michael Smith: Michael is an avid reader and frequent patron of the Somerville Public Library. He joined the board in 2023.
Mark Sternman: A former Trustee of the Kennebunk Free Library Board and Somerville Historic Preservation Commissioner, Mark began his SPL Board service in October 2022. He enjoys reading (especially about Canadian and U.S. politics), rooting (for Harvard women's hockey and the New York Yankees), and running (pretty much anywhere but particularly through the streets of Somerville).