Prairielands is directed by a Governing Board of nine members, consisting of five citizen members representing the public, three from the Pioneerland Library System region and the remaining two from the Plum Creek Library System region; and four working library staff, one representative for each type of member library served by Prairielands: academic, public, school and special library. This Board adopts and evaluates the Strategic Plan, budget, programs, services and policies.

The Board meets four times a year, on the second Thursday in September, December, March, June, at 4pm. The meetings occur at the PLE office at 109 S 5th Street, Suite #200, Marshall MN, 56258; and online, via zoom.

The agendas and minutes for each meeting can be found at the following link: Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes

 

Prairielands Governing Board FY 2026-2027 Members

  • April Prohl – President Plum Creek Library System Citizen; Beaver Creek, MN.
  • Kathy Craun Plum Creek Library System Board; Worthington, MN
  • Herb Rotunda  Citizen Representative, Pioneerland Library System
  • Lisa Spieker Worthington Schools; Worthington, MN.
  • Susan Hoskins Museum/Historical Society Representative, Pipestone County Museum; Pipestone, MN
  • Terrence Edwards Academic Library Representative; Ridgewater College – Hutchinson & Willmar campuses; Willmar, MN
  • Shelly Finzen Public Library Representative, Tyler Public Library (Plum Creek), Tyler, MN.

Prairielands Member Council

What is the Prairielands Member Council?

The first meeting of the Prairielands Library Exchange Member Council was February 1, 2002. The Member Council is an unstructured group. The group does not have a formal charge, except to look to the future of Prairielands. It explores how Prairielands should and can serve its member libraries. The group picks its own direction for discussion and activity as well as responding to requests from the Governing Board, staff and member libraries. This unstructured approach has proven effective thus far.

The Member Council has multiple members including the respective directors of Prairielands, Pioneerland, Plum Creek (or their designee); and up to nine representatives from individual member libraries, preferably including representation from all library types. Terms are for two calendar years with no limit to the number of terms. Meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend. All members are required to solicit their own replacements.

Prairielands Member Council FY26-27 Members

  • Bethany Kauffman, Prairielands
  • Calla Jarvie, Rock County Public Library
  • Cindy Hendrickx, Appleton Public Library
  • Theresa Nysetvold, Murray County Central Schools
  • Rachelle Gold, Pioneerland Library System
  • Elizabeth Hoffman, Plum Creek Library System

Teen Co-Op Steering Committee

Founded in June 2007 Prairielands (then SAMMIE), in conjunction with the Pioneerland and Plum Creek Library Systems, began to provide coordinated and cooperative support for young adults throughout the region. A team of like-minded individuals dedicated to encouraging the expansion of young adult services for our area was invited to part of this new initiative and the Teen Co-op Steering Committee was born.

Prairielands Teen Co-Op Members

        • Prairielands Office
          • Bethany Kauffman, Executive Director
          • Jennifer Parkhurst, Administrative Assistant
        • Pioneerland Library System
          • Margaret Weigelt, Atwater Public Library
          • Mackenzie Schley, Jackson County Libraries
        • Plum Creek Library System
          • Bronwyn Wenzel, Rock County Community Library
          • Emily Blaeser, Meinders Community Library
          • Emilirose Rasmusson, Marshall Lyon County Library

Prairielands Documents

Each of the items listed below will bring you to the corresponding documents.