The Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees is announcing changes to its structure and membership ahead of its May 27, 2025 meeting.

During its April meeting, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to expand from 12 to 15 members. The vote followed a recommendation from the Tompkins County Legislature. The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee reviewed the change in its May 1 meeting, with the full Legislature approving the Board of Trustees’ amended bylaws in its meeting on Tuesday, May 6.

The Board of Trustees also moved to approve the addition of seven new members. Each application was reviewed by both the Board of Trustees and the County Legislature’s Government Operations Committee.

The new members joining the Board of Trustees are: 

• Cynthia Mannino
  Retired mental health professional;
  Finger Lakes Library System Trustee
• Reyna Florentino-Gambrell
  AVP, Quality, Accreditation and Performance Improvement; Chief Risk & Quality Officer at Cayuga Health
• Carrie Bauer
  Program Coordinator for Cornell University’s Upward Bound program
• Emily Sanders Hopkins
  Director of Development and Community Relations at Hospicare & Palliative Care Services;
  Former President of TCPL Foundation Board of Directors
• Jason Kovari
  Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services at Cornell University;
  Co-owner of Hound and Mare
• Laura Krauss
  Certified Public Accountant
• Beth Osborne
  Senior Associate Director, Prospect Development at Georgetown University

More than 20 applications were considered as part of the process. Bauer, Florentino-Gambrell and Mannino’s terms will expire December 31, 2025. Terms for Osborne, Hopkins, Kovari and Krauss will expire December 31, 2027.

The Board of Trustees has also accepted the resignation of members Mimi Townsend and Jason Moore. Each cited personal matters in their decision. The Board is grateful for Townsend and Moore’s contributions to the Library and its mission to foster opportunities for people of all ages to discover, connect, and create.

The TCPL Board of Trustees provides administrative oversight to Library operations which includes appointing and supervising the Library Director, promoting the best use of Library resources, evaluating existing services, formulating policies and approving the annual budget.

The Board of Trustees typically meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Library, though the Board may reschedule meetings due to holidays or scheduling conflicts. Board of Trustees agenda, minutes and board packets are available on tcpl.org.