By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control began 2026 under new leadership as it began its January meeting on Thursday by electing new officers inside the Jack Beard Community Room of the LPL..
After each served two straight years in their roles. Board Chair Jan Canterbury and Vice-Chair Sandra Dupree are no longer officers after Bill Jones was elected as the new chairman and Amanda Norris was elected as vice-chair, with no true voting needed because each was the only nominee for their positions.
Deborah Gilliam was reelected to her role as Friends of the Library liaison with no other nomination made.
Jones thanked Canterbury for her leadership over the past two years.
“I want to thank you, Jan,” Jones said. “Your calm, commonsensical and knowledgeable leadership as chairperson has left this library better than it was when you took over. I just want to say that here. I know that I am joined in that sentiment by everybody in this room, including the press. So thank you very much.”
Canterbury said she appreciated Jones’ remarks.
“Thank you very much,” Canterbury said, “I just want a good library for our community. I’ve enjoyed it, and I still will enjoy it and will continue to do what I can to help the library as a Board member.”
In another move, Stephanie Smith was added as a member of the Board of Control’s Events Committee.
The Board’s Legislative Committee was at least temporarily suspended unless it should be deemed necessary to return later this year when the state legislature holds its annual meetings.
“Thankfully we haven’t had a need for that committee the past couple of years,” Jones said. “We had that initial flurry of craziness but it’s been quiet the past couple of years. I would think that we can suspend that committee. If something comes up in the spring, we can certainly reconstitute it.”
Two more Board committees will not return in 2026.
“The Compensation Plan committee has sunsetted and the Bylaws Committee has sunsetted as well,” Jones said. “Does anyone (on the Board) see a reason to continue those at this time?”
Receiving no reason to continue, those Board Committees were officially ended.
Library Director Jeremy Bolom told the Board that working on the Reader’s Club Gala is something he has immersed himself in.
“That’s the big thing for our readers each year,” Bolom said. “I think we’ve had well over 50, I think the final number of people is 56 who turned in pages this year, so we’re hoping to have a crowd of about 100 people for that.
“The theme is 70s Disco. We did The 60s as the theme last year so this year is Disco.
Bolom also told the Board that the problems caused by crape myrtles on library grounds that was discussed last month has also been addressed and said that the Adult Board Games programs that had been occurring quarterly will take place bi-monthly in 2026.
“We’ve gotten a good crowd for those, so we increased the number of times they will be held,” Bolom said.
