Board of Trustees
About The Trustees
The Placentia Library is an Independent Special District, governed by a five member elected Board of Trustees. The governing board promulgates policies and regulations for the District as well as establishing the budget for tax rate.
All Library Board meetings are open to the public. The Trustees usually meet on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Library’s Community Meeting Room.
The Board Book, containing the agenda, calendar of events, public notices, and the previous month's minutes is available at the Reference Desk. Click here for the March 27, 2023 Unusual Date Meeting Board Book.
Board meeting Zoom Direct Link.
The next Board Meeting will be held Monday, March 27, 2023.
 Jo-Anne W. MartinPresidentCurrent term: December 2, 2022 – December 4, 2026 Board President Martin’s background is in aerospace defense, operations and business. She has a bachelor’s degree in biopsychology from Vassar College, and a master’s degree in Systems Management from the State University of New York at Binghamton. President Martin served in the US Air Force for 21 years as an Air Battle Manager. During this time she commanded 2 Air Force units, served as a Mission Crew Commander in both the US and NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and was the Pacific Regional Air Defense Commander. President Martin commanded an AWACS crew during the first Gulf War, accumulating over 200 combat flying hours and was awarded an Air Medal for her accomplishments. She is the first female graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons (Top Gun) School. Her last assignment was at the Pentagon where she directed Congressional, budget and program integration for a $28 billion portfolio of communications and computer programs. She routinely briefed Congressional staffers, Air Force senior leadership and media. After retiring from the Air Force, President Martin spent 10 years in the aerospace defense industry. She was a Director of Business Development for The Boeing Company with extensive international as well as domestic responsibilities. Her international experiences span Asia, the Middle East and Europe with multiple tours in South Korea. President Martin is very active in the local community serving on the Board of Directors for HIS House and her church, and regularly volunteering at Charity’s Closet. You may contact Jo-Anne W. Martin at: JMartin@placentialibrary.org |
 Gayle CarlineSecretaryCurrent term: December 4, 2020 – December 4, 2024 Library Board Secretary Gayle Carline was a software engineer for almost 30 years, but her passion was always for reading and writing. She is a weekly humor columnist for the Placentia News-Times, and has written a mystery series set in Placentia. Secretary Carline is married and has one son. When Secretary Carline’s son was younger, her volunteer efforts included being President of the Valencia High School Choir Boosters and working on the VHS Grad Night festivities. Once he left for college, she turned to her second love, the local library, and joined the Placentia Library Friends Foundation, where she was a board member for two years. When an opening appeared on the library Board of Trustees, she applied for the position. Secretary Carline is as passionate about libraries as she is about books, and is honored to be a member of the Placentia Library District Board of Trustees. She has been a member of the board since her appointment in 2011. You may contact Gayle Carline at: GCarline@placentialibrary.org |
 Sherri DahlTrusteeCurrent term: December 4, 2020 – December 4, 2024 Trustee Sherri Dahl has been a Placentia resident for 20 years. She earned a B.A. in Social Ecology, Psychology and Social Behavior, from the University of California, Irvine and an M.B.A. from The University of Phoenix. Her work background encompassed experience in multiple social services programs, where she enjoyed making a positive difference in the lives of her clients. Trustee Dahl medically retired from work relatively early in her career due to severe spinal injuries and chronic pain. With a life-long history of being a volunteer, she looked for ways to give to her community working around her needs. She joined the Placentia Round Table Women’s Club in and the Placentia Library Friends Foundation in 1997, and became a Placentia Library Friends Foundation Board Member in 2016. She served as Board President of PLFF until December 2020, when she transitioned to the Library Board of Trustees. Trustee Dahl has a fondness for libraries going back to childhood. Her insatiable passion for reading is fed by books, the internet, cereal boxes, and even product ingredient lists on packaging, if desperate. You may contact Sherri Dahl at: sdahl@placentialibrary.org |
 Scott NelsonTrusteeCurrent term: December 2, 2022 – December 4, 2026 Trustee Nelson is a former Mayor for Placentia, having served on the City Council from 2007-2016. During his service, Trustee Nelson set the overall policy and direction for the City, including directing the administrative structure, assigning council members to chair or serving on committees, appointing citizens to serve on advisory boards, preparing annual budget with councilmembers and staff, and presiding over City Council meetings and ceremonial community events. A businessman in Placentia for over 37 years, Trustee Nelson is the owner of Nelson and Associates Insurance Brokerage. With his experience in customer service, strong understanding of finances, and chairmanship of the Audit Oversight Committee, Trustee Nelson brings to the Library Board a commitment to maintain a healthy and fiscally-responsible budget for the District. Additionally, Trustee Nelson served on the Placentia Linda Hospital, Orange County League of California Cities, Orange County Sanitation District, Homeless Intervention Shelter of Orange County, First Choice Physicians Partners, and the Esteban Toledo Foundation. Trustee Nelson and his wife are long-time residents of Placentia. In his free time, Trustee Nelson enjoys golf and reading. He was appointed in May 2022. You may contact Scott Nelson at: snelson@placentialibrary.org |
 Stephanie BeverageTrusteeCurrent term: December 2, 2022 – December 6, 2024 Stephanie Beverage is a native-born Californian, and a long-time resident of Placentia. A graduate of El Dorado High School, Stephanie attended UCLA and Georgetown Universities, earning a BA in History, a Master’s Degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. After completing her education, she returned to her hometown of Placentia and settled here while working as a professional librarian for library systems all across Southern California. Her last position was Director of Library Services for the City of Huntington Beach, a position she held for over 11 years. She has always been passionate about libraries and the important role they play in their communities. Stephanie retired in 2021, and lives with her husband, John and their 2 large ragdoll cats in Placentia’s 4th District. She enjoys reading, cooking and playing Pickleball, and is member of the CSUF Osher Lifelong Learning program. She is happy to be giving her time and expertise to the Library District, and looks forward to working with the rest of the Library Board to support and serve the community’s Library. You may contact Stephanie Beverage at: sbeverage@placentialibrary.org |