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, are posted below.
- Teams Meeting ID: 264 896 214 812
- Teams Passcode: 6gA9nk6v
- Teams Phone Conference ID: 598 761 463#
Teams: Dial in by phone +1 469-998-6602 [United States, Dallas] Find a local number (Teams) then Dial Phone Conference ID.
Zoom: Dial in by phone +13017158592 [US Washington DC] Find a local number (Zoom) then Dial Meeting ID, followed by a Pound (#), then the Passcode, followed by another Pound(#).
Agenda for Board of Trustees Meeting on August 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Call to Order
VOTE: Approval of Minutes – June 10, 2025
CEO’s Report
Budget Transfers
New Business
VOTE: Investment Update – Joe Rinaldi, Quantum Financial Group
VOTE: Artificial Intelligence Policy – Susan Grant
VOTE: Strategic Plan
FY 2025 Goals
FY 2026 Goals
Revised Board Manual
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Ron Crupi
Save the Date – Citizens for Maryland Libraries & Trustees Conference – October 11 at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library!
Closed Session
In accordance with General Provisions Art. § 3-305(b):
“To discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals”
The Board will interview one board candidate.
Adjourn
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 the board vice president and a 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 (2024-2025) 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.
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.
Rodney C. Flowers, (2025-2029), is a community member from St. Mary’s County. The Leonardtown resident is Director of Facilitation for The Department of the Navy’s NAVALX Agility Cell and Founder and President of Inspirational Endeavors, LLC, a consulting and training firm. He hold a Master’s in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College. Flowers has been a Southern Maryland resident for 24 years.