TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Library has announced the newest member of its Board of Library Trustees, Havaca Ganguly, who was appointed by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski in August.

Ganguly is currently the executive director for The Middendorf Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the arts, historic preservation, social services, health, environment and education. She hopes that her network can help support and amplify the work of the library.

“Libraries are a great equalizer in our communities, they provide knowledge and space that is accessible for all,” said Ganguly. “I have been looking for an opportunity to volunteer for an organization that I care deeply about and feel honored and humbled to serve in this role.”

“We are excited to welcome Havaca to the Baltimore County Public Library Board of Trustees and are looking forward to working with her and our other board members to help the library fulfill its strategic plan of building a community for a better tomorrow. Today’s library is more than books. We are an inclusive space connecting the citizens of Baltimore County to the resources and services needed to explore, learn, create and connect,” said Baltimore County Public Library CEO Sonia Alcántara-Antoine.

The new trustee has a deep respect for public libraries. Growing up in a rural town, she wasn’t introduced to the library until middle school and spent time abroad in Haiti and Mexico, which had limited access to library services. Now that Ganguly has a family of her own, the Baltimore County resident has found a new excitement for all it offers to children and families.

One library service she particularly enjoys is the Be Surprised Bundles. Ganguly says that even prior to the pandemic, health issues prevented her from freely browsing the library. The family was relieved that this program allowed them to stock their bookshelves for her daughter.

“The Be Surprised Bundles brought the library to us and was a gift to continue to have access to such wonderful, custom-picked books when we didn’t have the luxury of being able to browse the collection. That program will always have a special place in my heart,” said Ganguly, who will sit on the board through 2027.

Baltimore County Public Library is governed by a seven-member administrative board appointed by the County Executive. The Board operates under Laws of Maryland Related to Public Libraries and a set of bylaws. The Board has the legal authority to see that the library system is well managed and operates in accordance with the laws as well as policies established by the board itself. Trustees are appointed for a five-year term and may be reappointed for an additional five-year term.

Photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash