Becky Coker is the director of the Hardin Northern Public Library. She began working in the school library her junior year of high school and has remained in the library world since. She hired into the Hardin Northern Public Library July 6, 1976 and never left. Only having 1 part-time staff member at any given time, she has worn every hat that is needed in the library system. She moved her library from the local school to the Masonic Building. Then from the Masonic Building to a store front. Then from the store to it’s present location. In November of 2022, she and her board decided to pursue the possibility of adding on an addition to the library. In 2023, the planning & design of the addition took place and ground was broken January 2024 and the addition was completed in September 2024. She was very surprised & humbled when the board named the newly constructed addition the “Rebecca Coker Addition”.
I began library work as an intern at the Library of Congress. I completed an MLIS at Kent State University and have worked for a number of library systems from very large to very small in Ohio. I still carry a CDL for driving bookmobiles, even though I no longer work at a Library with a bookmobile. I’m currently the Library Director for the Louisville Public Library. We just finished a million dollar capital campaign that culminated in the opening of a brand new library.
I like to tell people that I grew up in the SEO system and I was able to migrate the Louisville Public Library to SEO in 2020.
Otherwise, I serve as a Township Trustee in Carroll County. I have been happily married to Lindsey for almost 14 years. We have one son, Luke (6), who is pretty sure he owns his own library.
It has been a pleasure to spend most of my library career in SEO libraries.
I am honored to be considered for a position on the SEO Advisory Committee. I have been the director of the Weston Public Library for 26 years. Before that, I worked as a Children’s Librarian. Throughout my career in public libraries, I have held several roles: past Trustee and President of NORWELD Regional Library System, OLC Small Library Division Committee member, and presenter at professional conferences.
I enjoy being a “can-do” director in the SEO consortium, from working with other member libraries to re-barcoding 2,000 items in 5 days, so another member could join the consortium. The everyday changes and challenges of working in the public library sector are never-ending, and I would listen to all my colleagues in the SEO system to ensure all concerns and viewpoints are presented.
Thank you for the honor.
Laura Lee Wilson has been an active member of the Ohio public library community since 1995, always working at a SEO Consortium member library. She began her career as Youth Services Manager at the Loudonville Public Library, later transitioning to Children’s Services Librarian at the Holmes County District Public Library, where she also led Extension Services. Since 2012, she has served as Director of the Huron County Community Library. Wilson earned her MLIS from Kent State University.
She is deeply committed to the professional responsibility of serving libraries and the people who work within them, as well as safeguarding equitable access to library services for all. Throughout her career, she has remained actively involved in numerous local, state, and national professional organizations.
Wilson has seen firsthand the benefits of libraries collaborating within a consortium environment. Shared collections, coordinated marketing tools, cost savings through third-party integrations, and strong technology support and security awareness all contribute to better service for patrons.