Largo, MD - The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is honored to present two new members of the Board of Library Trustees. Patrice Garnette and Robert Fernandez were sworn in last week during a public hearing event at the Prince George's County Council. “We are excited to welcome these new board members who will advocate for and support the efforts of PGCMLS as we continue to work toward social impact for our community members.” said Roberta Phillips, CEO.

The PGCMLS Board of Library Trustees is a seven-member board appointed by the County that governs the Library. During members’ five-year terms, they bring knowledge of the community, a commitment to the rights of citizens to information, and a willingness to continually maintain and strengthen library services in Prince George's County. 

Meet the New Board of Library Trustees Members:

Patricia Garnette is currently a capital markets compliance manager at Freddie Mac, overseeing the firm's compliance with financial obligations. Garnette is a former teacher, an avid reader, and a lifelong learner. "I strongly feel that communities have free access to outstanding reading and research materials and other important library services. For generations, my family has emphasized the power of reading and learning and regularly uses our local public library. I've passed that value on to my children and believe strongly in the need to have great library resources available to all families in my area," Garnette stated. She holds a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, a master's degree from American University, and a bachelor's degree from Hampton University. She resides in Bowie, Maryland.

Robert Fernandez has been a faculty member and librarian at Prince George's Community College since 2017. Fernandez serves on the board of directors of Wikimedia District of Columbia, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works with cultural institutions in the greater Washington DC area, including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives. He engages these institutions and their audiences with Wikipedia and other open-source educational projects. "I have been a library patron since my mother regularly brought me to Morristown Public Library as a toddler. Libraries have been a key element of my intellectual and social growth throughout my life. I wish to deepen my family's roots in this community and contribute to its growth and well-being. I feel the best way to do that is to volunteer in an area where I have a significant skill set and use that experience to improve my community. I've grown to understand this community better through my work with library patrons here, and I am committed to the rights of those patrons to access information," Fernandez said. 

PGCMLS also congratulates Sylvia Bolivar for being reappointed as a board member. Bolivar has been part of the Board of Library Trustees since June 2008. She advises municipalities on community and economic development programs. Previously, Bolivar served as senior advisor for place-based initiatives in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Board of Library Trustees ensures that PGCMLS continues providing services in the community, advocating and maintaining programs and initiatives that empower the residents of Prince George's County. 

For more information about the Board of Library Trustees, click here.

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About Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 967,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve booklovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. PGCMLS is the recipient of the 2021 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award for Workforce and Economic
Development. Learn more at pgcmls.info/about-us.