Board of Library Trustees

The Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA) is governed by a board of trustees. Members are drawn from Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. The Board consists of a library trustee from each county library system and up to two members of the public from each county served by the library systems. Trustees serve five-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.  You may contact the board of trustees via email (regionalboard@smrla.org).

SMRLA is currently recruiting for members of the public to represent Calvert County and St. Mary’s County. Interested candidates can view our Board of Trustees recruitment document here

Board Meetings

The SMRLA board meets the second Tuesday of every other month at 4 p.m. Meetings may be held in person or virtually. Meeting notices, including the agenda and log-in information, are posted below:

Microsoft Teams

Meeting ID: 251 987 548 75

Passcode: zt9kk2vi

Dial in by phone +1 469-998-6602,,764751955# United States, Dallas

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 764 751 955#

Agenda for Board Meeting on December 10, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

Call to Order
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Financial Report
CEO’s Report
New Business
VOTE: Strategic Plan Consultant
VOTE: Employee Handbook Revision – Payroll Tax Withholding
VOTE: Collection Development Policy
VOTE: Privacy Policy Revision
Sharepoint & Teams for Board Members – Justin Davis, SMRLA
Citizens for Maryland Libraries Debrief
Finance Committee
Unfinished Business
FY 2025 Board Goals

Download a PDF of the agenda here.

Meeting Minutes

Please check our sidebar above for recent Meeting Minutes.  Historical Meeting Minutes available upon request.

Board Members

Suzanne Darby (2024-2029) is SMRLA’s Board President and a member of the Charles County Public Library Board of Trustees.

Pat Vaira (2024-2029) is SMRLA’s board vice president and member of the Charles County Public Library Board of Trustees. Now retired, she was formerly a school psychologist and Director of Student Services for Charles County Public Schools. Vaira holds a BS degree from Towson State College and an MA and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She volunteers with the Mattawoman Creek Art Center and with her neighborhood homeowners association.

Ronald Crupi (2019-2025) is SMRLA’s board treasurer and a member of the Calvert Library Board of Library Trustees.

John Johnston (2024-2026) is a member of the St. Mary’s County Library board of trustees.

Johnnie Taylor (2024-2029) is a community member from St. Mary’s County.

Karl Adler (2024-2029) is a community member from Calvert County. He is a teacher and school administrator, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Muhlenberg College, a master’s degree in education from Goucher College, and a post-graduate certificate in educational leadership from Johns Hopkins University. He serves on the Commission for Accreditation for the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS), and also serves on the board of directors for The Kent School in Chestertown and Flag Harbor Marina Association in St. Leonard. Adler volunteers with the Scientists’ Cliffs Association and the American Chestnut Land Trust.