Present Members 7

Kathy Alfano, Chairwoman, 2011
Kathy's association with the Library developed through her pivotal roles in Friends' programs.  As Canton Community Theatre President, Kathy brought both groups together in fruitful collaboration to produce some of the Library's most popular community events, including the Harry Potter Midnight Magic, and Murder in the Library.

George Comeau
George received a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 1999. He also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Sawyer School of Management and Bachelor's Degree in Communication from the College of Sciences at Suffolk University. George is the Managing Associate Director of University Media Services at Suffolk University and an adjunct professor at Suffolk University, where he teaches courses in Distance Learning, Television Production, Nonprofit Law and Media Writing. George also consults on High Technology issues in education. George was a member of the Town of Canton Planning Board for eleven years and is a member of the Canton Historical Commission. George earned the Trustee of the Year Award in Massachusetts for 2002. In 2004, Governor Mitt Romney appointed George to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners where he serves a Commissioner of Public libraries for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Betty Chelmow, Liaison to A.B.E., 2011
Currently Board Chairperson, Betty was a Consultant Teacher for the Department of Special Education in the Town of Holbrook until her retirement in 1999. She holds a state appointment as an Education Surrogate Parent providing advocacy services for children in DSS custody and in foster care. She is our most tenured Trustee, having served since 1977, and the only present Trustee to have also sat on the 1979 Library Building Committee. Elected Chair of the Board on numerous occasions including throughout the Construction Project, Betty also served as Board Liaison to the Building Renovations Committee 1992-1994. Betty has fostered associate partnerships with the Mass. Audubon Society in Canton and the Blue Hills Adult Basic Education Program.  In 2006 Betty co-chaired the "One Town, One Book" reading program.

Susan E. Cogliano
Sue served as Chairwoman as well as in various capacities since her election in 1989. Together with her husband, Sue has provided delightfully catered refreshments at a number of Friends and Trustee programs. Sue has been a teacher in the Stoughton public school system for twenty-eight years. Sue's "science magic" thrilled many children during princess party sleepovers and other programs.  She also develops puppies into becoming seeing-eye dogs, patiently exposing them to various environments - including Trustee meetings.

Nancy Mark, Liaison to the Friends of the Library, 2011
Elected in 1986, Nancy served as Chairwoman a number of years. Nancy was a founding member of the Friends of the Library and frequently served as Trustee Liaison to the Friends. Nancy is a founding member of "Friends with Books" a monthly reading group held at the Library. Nancy has been a Librarian for a number of years at the Kennedy and Dean S. Luce Elementary Schools and has also been a frequent volunteer at the Canton Public Library. She holds a degree in Education from University of Michigan.

Margaret E. Mead, Secretary, 2011
Peg's earliest association with the Library was as a volunteer during the electronic data conversion of our catalog. She was elected in 1995 and has served as Secretary to the Board and Chair of the Library Building Committee. Peg's background is in public relations, and she has written many press releases for the Board. Peg co-chaired major events at the Library including the Auction in 2002, the Library Opening Gala and Family Day Dedication in 2003. Peg has been active in updating the Library policy manual. Peg has taken several courses in Library Science.

Joan Schottenfeld
After having served as the treasurer of the Friends of the Library since 1997, Joan was appointed January, 2005. Joan holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Literature from Haifa University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Simmons college. A former English teacher and computer programmer, Joan has been a reporter for the Canton Citizen since 1998, reporting on town and school events and writing her weekly column, As You Like It.  In 2006 Joan initiated the town-wide reading program "One Town, One Book".

Dorothy Shea, Vice Chair, 2011
Dottie was elected in 2008 and has served as Secretary to the Board.

Joyce Wiseman
Joyce was elected in 2009 and previously served on the Board for two terms.  Joyce is a founding member of the Friends of the Library and has served as its President, as well as Chairwoman of the annual Book Sale, among other posts. Joyce was honored to be named "Volunteer of the Year for 2008" by the Friends of the Library.