Meet Our Board
Trustees of York Public Library
Click to learn more about our Board members. To contact the Board of Trustees, please email trustees@yorkpubliclibrary.org.
Robyn Dunn, President
Robyn Dunn grew up in Durham, NH, and spent many sunburned summer days at York Beach before heading to Tulane University to study Political Economics. She assumed this would launch her into a thrilling life in politics, but a quick stint in Washington, D.C. cured her of that notion. Instead, she stumbled into a much more agreeable career in technology management and consulting at Accenture and eventually Microsoft—more problem solving, less partisan pontificating… and much better coffee.
While in D.C., Robyn met her husband, Patrick, who had also recently jumped ship from the political world to become a traditional wooden boat builder. In search of a place where tech met timber, they packed up and moved to Seattle, WA. There, Robyn worked at Microsoft on the Internet of Things and AI, while Patrick built boats the old-fashioned way—with actual wood.
After nearly 20 years at Microsoft, Robyn swapped high-tech for high tunnels and is now rehabilitating a small, retired Christmas tree farm in York using regenerative organic practices and permaculture. She’s also pursuing a graduate degree in sustainability with a focus on agriculture. These days, instead of sitting in meetings about software bugs, she spends her time negotiating with the literal, plant-eating kind—while growing flowers, raising chickens, and learning firsthand what it means to nurture a productive and resilient landscape.
While Robyn always had a passion for books, her love of libraries deepened profoundly after the arrival of her daughter in 2014. As a baby, her daughter’s first fine motor skill was flipping pages; her favorite toys were books. Her baby bags, suitcases, and backpacks were always backbreakingly heavy—stuffed full of BOOKS! Libraries became, and have remained, a favorite family travel destination. So when their New England roots called them back to the East Coast in 2021, and they found themselves house-hunting up and down the coastline, it wasn’t the amazing beaches, great schools, or cute shops and restaurants that sold them on York. After a long morning of house-hunting, it was an afternoon spent in the beautiful York Public Library’s children’s room that instantly made the town feel like home. Serving on the Library’s Board of Trustees is an honor for Robyn—but more importantly, it also makes her marginally cooler in the eyes of her book-loving tween.
IN MEMORIAM: Dan Bancroft, Former President
Dan and his wife Anne moved to York in 2017. Having retired after 45 years as a trial lawyer, he spent his time writing plays, substitute teaching at the York Middle School, and entertaining his grandchildren. His love affair with libraries ran deep, and he was delighted to work with the amazing library board members and staff in order to continue to provide York with a place where people and ideas can connect. In addition to YPLA’s Board, Dan served on the Board of Directors of Commonwealth Land Trust, a Massachusetts-based 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving neighborhoods and preventing homelessness.
Janet Blyberg, Vice President
Janet Blyberg is a museum curator by training, who began her career at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, assisting with major exhibitions and publication projects, including Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set (2002); My Faraway One: Selected Letters of Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz (2011); and the catalogue raisonné, Mark Rothko: The Works on Paper. She moved to Maine in 2012 with her husband, and has worked at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit, Maine, and Old York Historical Society in York. She is now an independent scholar and owns a small antiques business. Janet holds a B.A. in history and fine arts from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and received her M.A. in museum studies from The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
As a museum professional, Janet has a deep sense of curiosity and a love of information, and libraries—of all types and sizes—have played a central role in her academic pursuits. Janet was delighted to join the board of trustees of the York Public Library in 2023 and serves as vice president.
Griffin Gribbel, Treasurer
Griffin is a native of Freeport, Maine. He attended North Yarmouth Academy before earning his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Lawrence University. Professionally, Griffin is a First Vice President, Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Financial Planning Specialist with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Griffin worked with Fidelity Capital Markets as a Senior Fixed Income Trade Support Analyst in their Boston offices.
Griffin and his wife Lindsay moved to York in 2021. Lindsay’s family has summered in York for generations. They are active members of the York Golf and Tennis Club as well as the York Harbor Reading Room. They are looking forward to welcoming their first child in October. Griffin is proud to call York his home and value the opportunity to contribute his professional experience and financial background in service to the York Public Library and the broader York Community.
Suzanne Berlin, Secretary
Volunteering has always been an important part of Suzanne’s life. As a youth, she would spend Saturday afternoons at her local library reading the latest additions on the book rack. In college, Suzanne volunteered/managed a program helping individuals from the local group home with outside activities such as preparing a Thanksgiving dinner. While working in Boston, she volunteered at an East Boston Community Center to help local residents navigate their healthcare issues. Suzanne graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Chemistry. She then received her medical degree from the University of New England and later earned a masters degree in Healthcare Ethics from Creighton University. In 1999, Suzanne, her husband and their 2 children moved to York. Their children attended the York public schools and she volunteered, as many parents do, assisting at the sports games, school outings and music programs. Throughout her professional career in both community and academia, she has served on hospital Ethics Committees and Institutional Review Boards. Presently, she is a consultant for a commercial Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviewing oncology clinical trials. Suzanne retired from clinical practice in 2019 and since then has found time to become involved with local organizations. She is a supporting member of the library and has volunteered at programs such as the 2022 100th anniversary celebration and the 2023 John Palfrey lecture. She enjoys being a Board member of the Old York Garden Club serving on scholarship and youth education committees. She is also a member of the York Land Trust and has been involved with summer planting and weeding projects as well as helping at their booth last year during the Climate Action Fair. In addition, personal activities include gardening, cooking, fishing (especially in Alaska), clamming, traveling, photography, and playing musical instruments.
Iain Bruce
Information coming soon.
Maria Gerrity
Maria has been coming to York for over fifty years and remembers well taking her three children to the tiny children’s section the old library. Now she takes her six grandchildren. She believes that a library is not only an intellectual center for a town but also a community hub and a truly democratic institution, open and free to everyone. In her own words: “The York Public Library exemplifies through its many programs how a library can serve the needs of the community by providing books, internet access, after-school programs, and programming aimed at local interests. As a retired high school English teacher and life-long lover of books and reading, I hope I can contribute to making York Public Library an even more vibrant part of our town.”
Growing up in Vermont, Emily was a regular at the public library, which sparked her curiosity about the world and a love of a good story. Years later, Emily served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and experienced the value of the library in its absence. She partnered with a village leader to bring a neglected one-room library to life. They raised funds for computers and digital cameras, started after-school clubs, and filled the shelves with more than 500 donated Spanish-language books. The space soon buzzed with activity, underscoring for Emily the importance of public libraries the world over. Libraries create the conditions for learning and connection by providing access to information, resources, and a judgment-free place to convene and explore.
A commitment to expanding opportunity has carried through Emily’s career, from helping international Fulbright scholars access higher education and researching microfinance for the UN, to building out the Emerging Markets business at Bloomberg and driving strategic initiatives on Google’s International Growth and Google for Education teams. Most recently, Emily led Strategy and Planning at UNICEF USA.
Emily moved to York with her family in 2020 and quickly fell for the York Public Library, where she’s often found checking out more books than she and her kids can carry. She serves as a YPL trustee and chairs the Technology Committee, bringing the same hands-on spirit and belief in the value of libraries to her work in York.
Marilyn McLaughlin, Liaison to the Town of York Selectboard
Information coming soon
Matthew Murray
Information coming soon.
Kathleen O’Donnell
Kathy grew up in Methuen, Massachusetts where she spent many hours in the Nevins Memorial Library. The Nevins occupied a magnificent old building and the librarians, although scary at times, promoted education and community engagement. The York Library similarly focuses on lifelong learning and community involvement. Kathy went to Wheaton College and Suffolk University Law School.
For over 43 years as a trial lawyer Kathy represented people in personal injury cases. Active in the legal community, Kathy served as President of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. Through those organizations Kathy worked on important legal issues including proposals to restrict constitutional rights after the 9-11 attack and statutory changes necessary after Massachusetts became the first state to recognize same sex marriage. A recognized expert on insurance issues, Kathy has been invited to testify before Congress and before numerous state legislatures.
Kathy first came to York in 1982 and she spent as much time as possible here over the past 43 years. She stayed in York during the pandemic and she never moved back to Massachusetts. Recently retired, Kathy looks forward to becoming more involved in the York community, particularly the Library. She is honored to be serving as a Trustee.
Sam Ramus
Born and raised in York, Maine, Sam returned in 2016 to raise his own family in the community he’s always called home. As Director of Partnerships at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, Sam brings his passion for lifelong learning, digital transformation, and fostering collaboration to organizations throughout New England. His experiential learning approach was shaped by a decade working in international education, where he prepared K-12 students from across the country to become citizens of the globe. He is a proud graduate of York High School (where he captained the Track and Field team), holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Lawrence University (where he led philanthropy for a fraternity), and earned an M.Ed. in Educational Studies from the University of New Hampshire (where he focused on designing personalized learning experiences). The York Public Library has been a part of Sam‘s life since childhood and he sees it as an essential institution that provides access, opportunity, and community connection for all residents. He is honored to contribute to its continued vitality as a tech-forward hub for learning and discovery. When not working or volunteering, you’ll find Sam skiing, fishing, or enjoying the beaches in York with his wife and three young boys.
Amanda Woods
Amanda Woods believes in big ideas, kind hearts, and rolling up your sleeves to get things done. Her journey to York began during her first year at Saint Michael’s College, sparked by a simple, friendly conversation with a kind local woman at a small business near Short Sands Beach. One introduction led to another and eventually to her husband, David. More than two decades later, that kind local woman is now Amanda’s mother-in-law and the proud grandmother of Amanda and David’s two children. Together, they’ve built a life grounded in love, hard work, and family business. As the Director of Marketing for Wiggly Bridge Distillery, Amanda played a key role in building the brand from the ground up, blending creativity with strategy to grow a business rooted in passion and purpose. She’s also a children’s book author, with titles that have earned Amazon’s #1 New Release recognition.
Amanda’s commitment to York shines through her extensive volunteer work. She was the founding organizer of TEDxYorkBeach, bringing thought-provoking ideas to life, bringing the community together, and helping put York on a global stage. She has proudly served on the boards of the York Region Chamber of Commerce and the York Education Foundation.
Along the way, she’s picked up a few guiding principles: be kind, work hard, give back, keep dreaming, and don’t let life’s bumps throw you off course, just meet them with grace, gratitude and truth. Clear communication and a grateful heart go a long way. Amanda thrives on meeting new people and turning ideas into action. She brings passion, follow-through, and a whole lot of energy to every project she takes on. Amanda is honored to support the York Public Library as a trustee, championing curiosity, connection, and community for all.