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Library Administration, Board of Trustees, and Policies

Our Mission

Cobb County Public Library is a place where we are committed to being a vital resource center by providing equal access to information, materials, and services to enrich people’s lives.

Our Vision

To move beyond traditional library services by strategically integrating new technology services, creating engaging community centers, and providing life-enriching library and cultural experiences for all who enter our doors.

Cobb County Core Values

At Cobb County, everything we do focuses on our core values -- commitment, diversity, integrity, and teamwork -- to bring value to our community and to leave a legacy for generations to come. These values come straight from our employees and are the moral compass that guides is in all we do here at Cobb.

Library Administration

Helen Poyer,
Library Director
Slone Williams,
Communications Manager
Teresa Tresp,
Division Director of Branch Services
Janice Gillpatrick,
Human Resources
Shelley Zhang,
Division Director of Technical Operations
Dinah Bonesteel,
Library Support Assistant
Sheila Jacobs,
Business Manager
 

To contact Cobb County Public Library Administration, please call (770) 528-2320.

Library Board of Trustees 2024 Meeting Schedule

All Library Board of Trustees Meetings begin at 6:30 pm.

January 22 -- Switzer Library February 26 -- Sewell Mill Library March 25 -- Switzer Library April 29 -- Vinings Library
May 20 -- Mountain View Library June 24 -- Switzer Library August 26 -- South Cobb Library September 23 -- Switzer Library
October 28 -- East Cobb Library November 18 -- Switzer Library    

Board of Trustees

The Cobb County Public Library Board of Trustees is a nine-member volunteer board made up of local citizens appointed by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. Each trustee serves a 3-year term and may serve successive terms. The trustees set library policy and advise on activities. The Library Board holds regular meetings at various library locations on a rotating schedule and are open to the public.

James Coleman

James Coleman has always found a second home in libraries. Born and raised in Richmond, VA, he spent countless hours wandering the stacks of his local branch. It's a habit that continues today.

James graduated in 2003 from Harvard University, where he received a degree in Government. He has had several careers.  Early on, he taught basic philosophy and US history to high school students in Cairo, Egypt, then did field work in New Hampshire for a presidential campaign. A large part of his career was spent at McMaster-Carr Supply Company, a large industrial distributor. There, he managed a variety of business operations, including inventory, stock keeping, order assembly, and marketing.  More recently, James ran the Flashpoint Accelerator at Georgia Tech, which helped young technology companies figure out their business models and secure investment.  Currently, he is a graduate student in Computer Science at Georgia Tech and has entrepreneurial interests in the XR space.

He lives in Smyrna, GA with his wife, Christina, and two children, Erin and Gabriel.

Ollye Davis

Ollye Davis was reappointed to the Cobb County Public Library Board of Trustees by District 4 Commissioner Monique Sheffield.  She holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from Clark Atlanta University, formerly Clark College, and a Masters in Library and Information Science from Atlanta University.  Ollye is a retired School Library Media Specialist from Fulton County School System.  With over 40 years of working experience, she has been employed as a Research Librarian with Fulton County Public Library System; Research Librarian and Information Specialist with the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy (Clark College); and part-time Adjunct Professor, English/Library Science, Georgia Military College.

Ollye has a sincere passion for education and libraries. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood.  Throughout her career, she has been active with several professional associations including the American Library Association, Special Libraries Association, Georgia Library Association, and Georgia Library Media Association, Association for Educational Communications and Technology and Georgia Retired Educators Association.  While working at the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy, Ollye compiled a handbook, “So You Are Doing Research-An Annotated Guide to Library Materials in Political Science and Related Fields.”  This handbook is now archived at the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC).

Ollye is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, as well as a member and Historian of the Ladies Auxiliary Unit 296, American Legion, Post 296.  She and her husband live in Mableton and have two wonderful adult children and seven grandchildren.  Ollye and her husband are active members of the Camp Creek Church of Christ where she is a team member of the Audio Visual Ministry.

Martina Goscha

Martina is a Marietta City resident appointed to the Trustee Board by Commissioner Birrell in April 2021.

Rachel Gray

Rachel Gray lives in the Powder Springs area, and is a graduate from Indiana University with a BS in Journalism. Rachel and her husband moved from New Mexico to Georgia, when she started reporting for the Marietta Daily Journal. She has most recently worked in marketing (from local projects to corporate branding), dedicating free time to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, West Ridge Church, local political campaigns and community organizations. Rachel also enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, concerts and traveling. Her preferred genre is historical fiction and novels written by journalists investigating marginalized cultures. Rachel is an advocate for freedom of information, as well as investing in public space for gathering and recreation. She is currently advocating to change the name of her former high school.

Peggy Holbrook

Peggy Kelley Holbrook was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 2007 by then Commissioner Helen Goreham.

Peggy graduated from Marietta High School and attended the University of Georgia where she majored in Journalism. She is an active member of Gracepointe Marietta Baptist Church where she serves as a Greeter and is a member of the ALT and the choir. She is a past member of the Cobb County Youth Museum Guild and held many PTSA positions over the years. Peggy has been the Business Manager for Camp Juliette Low for more than 30 years.

She and her husband Mike live in Marietta,  have been married for 47 years, and have 2 wonderful children and 7 fabulous grandchildren.

Jon Jordan

Jon Jordan was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees by in December 2017 by Commissioner Bob Ott.

Jon is an attorney with the Atlanta-based law firm of King & Spalding LLP, specializing in creditor-debtor litigation, with a law degree from Vanderbilt University and a business degree from Samford University. A lifelong bibliophile, Jon has authored three books on American history (the New York Times bestselling Brothers Rivals Victors, American Warlords and Lone Star Navy), edited a historical text for Southern Methodist University, and is a contributing author to three books on world history. He has authored a dozen book reviews for The Wall Street Journal, appeared in history documentaries, spoken around the country on history topics, and has written nearly two dozen history magazine articles. In his spare time, he is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 1011 of Marietta, an officer of the Walton High School Fencing Club, and an avid hiker.

A member of Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, Jon has lived in East Cobb County since 2001 with his wife of 25 years, his son, 2 daughters, and 2 rowdy dogs of uncertain parentage.

Peggy Pool

Peggy Pool was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 2009 by then Commissioner Tim Lee.

Peggy is a retired teacher.  She stays busy with her family and many hobbies, is the Worship Chair for St. Paul United Methodist Church, and remains actively involved in mathematics education community across Georgia.

Abby Shiffman

Abby Shiffman was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in January 2009 by Commissioner Bob Ott.

Abby is the former Communications Specialist for Wheeler High School but is actually a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. She has been active in her community as a volunteer for numerous organizations such as Keep Cobb Beautiful, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at multiple levels and committees, the School Council at both Wheeler HS & East Cobb MS, and the Governing Board at Sedalia Park ES. She considers herself a Child Advocate for all children. She is a past Board Member of the East Cobb Civic Association, was Booster Club President for Wheeler Boys Soccer, volunteered in the libraries of all previously mentioned schools, has been a part of crew/teams for American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the March of Dimes, Atlanta 3-Day & 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, Avon 3-day, Komen 3-day, and Atlanta AIDS Walk. Abby was awarded the Wheeler HS MLK Humanitarian Award 2016, YWCA Tribute Honoree Woman of Achievement 2015, Cobb Life Magazine Best Volunteer for 2015, and Wheeler HS Volunteer of the year 2012-13.

She has 2 wonderful children, a very supportive husband for over 30 years, and currently lives in East Cobb but has been in Cobb County for 34+ years.