Helping to oversee your Pierce County Library System.
The Board of Trustees of the Pierce County Library System has significant policy and fiduciary responsibility. Library boards have two kinds of duties:
- Legal powers vested by Washington law.
- Broader responsibilities not set by law but required for the efficient management of the library.
Regular informational packets and background materials for Board meetings are distributed prior to meetings and are available for public review. Meetings are open to the public and public comment is welcomed. Information on the members, meeting schedule, agenda and minutes are found below or by contacting the Executive Director’s office at 253-548-3420.
Board members
Library Board members serve five-year terms and are appointed by the Pierce County Executive. Board members are volunteer citizens who represent different regions of the library service area.
Pam Duncan, Chair
Pamela Duncan, a Lakewood resident, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tierra Sólida Enterprises, which is dedicated to building and sustaining businesses and economies and helping people who are economically disadvantaged discover lives that are more purposeful. Trustee Duncan’s career also includes overseeing the renovation and development of buildings and teaching high school and higher education students.
Previously Duncan worked as the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Development Council and the Human Services Manager with the City of Tacoma. Duncan also serves on the Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance and serves as the Chair of its Equity and Racial Justice Committee. Trustee Duncan is a tremendous community volunteer and was a long-time tutor with Tacoma Community House’s Read2Me Program and an elementary school volunteer.
Duncan is the Board Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium, Board Chair of the Washington State Community Action Partnership, and a member of the American Red Cross, South Puget Sound and Olympics Chapter.
Trustee Duncan has worked for more than 30 years in community building and economic development, education and grant-making for nonprofit and public sector organizations.
Term expires: Feb. 14, 2029
Neesha Patel, Vice-Chair
Neesha Patel, an Edgewood resident, volunteers with Tacoma Community House and works with underrepresented and marginalized populations to help them develop career skills and complete educational certifications. After completing a degree in England, Patel’s early career began as a developer, but after volunteering on a GED program, Patel was inspired to make a dramatic career change from IT to teaching. Patel taught math in the Kent School District to students navigating ADHD, created a mathematics tutoring business and worked part-time as a librarian page. Later, as an instructor at Green River College, Patel realized her passion for teaching math, and completed a masters in mathematics education from the University of Washington to become a tenured mathematics professor at South Puget Sound Community College for many years. In 2017, the Evergreen State College awarded Patel the Teacher Excellence Award.
Term expires: Aug. 11, 2025
Pat Jenkins
Pat Jenkins, a Puyallup-area resident, is the program director and editor of Senior Media Services, a Lutheran Community Services Northwest program that publishes news and information resources for older adults and their families. His previous career was as a newspaper editor. Jenkins has served as an elected member of the Puyallup School Board, as an appointed member of other community boards and committees including the Kauai (Hawaii) Food Bank, Westsound Treatment Center, Multi Service Center and Peninsula Work Release and in volunteer roles with public schools, PTA and Rotary.
Term expires: Mar. 31, 2027
Abby Sloan
Abby Sloan, a University Place resident, is an elementary school principal with the Tacoma Public Schools. Sloan is a Pierce College Education Program board member, a co-project manager for community food banks and a volunteer with University Place Community Events Collaboration. Trustee Sloan’s other community leadership activities include being a guest speaker and alumni contributor for the University of Washington Tacoma’s Education Leadership program and serving as co-project manager with the Trust for Public Land Playground Renewal.
Term expires: Aug. 5, 2026
Ryan Wheaton
Ryan Wheaton lives in the Puyallup area and is Chief Planning Officer at Pierce Transit. In this role, he leads planning, marketing, community outreach and business account sales. He also manages the grants program and innovative partnerships to enhance community access.
Ryan’s previous roles at Pierce Transit included business development and paratransit operations. Before entering public transit, he worked in education for seven years following his service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan and an AmeriCorps volunteer in King County. As City Manager in his hometown, Trustee Wheaton helped secure funding for key transportation projects.
Trustee Wheaton holds degrees from Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado and Pacific Lutheran University. He serves on the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce Board and is a member of the Rotary Club of Tacoma and City Club of Tacoma.
Term expires: Aug. 13, 2029
Board meeting information
Unless otherwise noted, Board meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of the month at 3:30 pm. Special meetings and study sessions are also held as needed. Board meetings are generally held at the Library’s Administrative Center, 3005 112th St. E. (corner of 112th and Waller Road).
Please check the meeting schedule below for the specific schedule and meeting location. You may also print or download the Board of Trustees meeting schedule.
Agenda
The agenda of a Board meeting is available the week prior to a scheduled meeting. Please check the website for the agenda or contact the Executive Director’s office at 253-548-3420.
Minutes
Please note that minutes are posted only after formal adoption by the Board of Trustees.
Contact the Board
The Board welcomes comments and suggestions. You can contact the Board by completing this form, at 253-548-3420 or by mail:
Board of Trustees
Pierce County Library System
3005 112th Street E
Tacoma, WA 98446
