Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
The Lopez Island Library Welcomes Its New Director
Feb 4, 2022
By Lopez Island Library
The Board of Trustees of the Lopez Island Library is thrilled to announce the appointment of Darren Hoerner as Director of the Lopez Island Library, a position from which he will lead our cherished and celebrated community institution to an even brighter future.
If you’ve been to the Farmer’s Market over the last two summers, you may already know Darren. After moving to Lopez in 2018, he and his husband started a micro-farm and have happily been selling produce since 2020.
Like many Lopezians, Darren has a diverse past and unique set of talents. He holds a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington and 25 years experience with public libraries. Starting in 1997, he worked with small, rural libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi to support library staff in introducing new library services that addressed local needs and interests. Most recently, as Senior Program Officer in the Global Libraries Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Darren worked with libraries around the world, with a special focus on Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. That work included supporting libraries to become increasingly community-driven and innovative in their services, while ensuring they reach more people in ways that help improve lives.
As a library-lover, Darren volunteered at the Library as soon as he moved to Lopez. He begins work in his capacity as Director on February 14 and is eager to meet people and hear how the library can better serve our community. “We moved to Lopez first and foremost because of the incredible community. We wanted to live in a place where people look out for each other, help each other, and work together to solve problems. I am honored to have the opportunity to do this in an official capacity at our island library.†Please stop by the library to say hi or stay tuned for an upcoming Village Square, a virtual meet and greet for those less comfortable meeting in-person.
With this appointment, Claudia Rempel, who has been serving in the capacity of Interim Director, will resume her role of Operations Manager, a key leadership position at the library. The Board would like to recognize Claudia for stepping up and taking on increased responsibilities over the last two years. Despite constraints during the COVID pandemic, Claudia has led the staff in increasing library services. Her leadership has been outstanding and successfully carried the library through very trying times.
The Board would like to thank the community for its ongoing support of the library and wish the new Director well.
Lopez Island Library Board of Trustees
Constance Euerle
Connie Holz
Michael Moore
Mindy Richardson
LeaAnne Rolla
Like many Lopezians, Darren has a diverse past and unique set of talents. He holds a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington and 25 years experience with public libraries. Starting in 1997, he worked with small, rural libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi to support library staff in introducing new library services that addressed local needs and interests. Most recently, as Senior Program Officer in the Global Libraries Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Darren worked with libraries around the world, with a special focus on Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. That work included supporting libraries to become increasingly community-driven and innovative in their services, while ensuring they reach more people in ways that help improve lives.
As a library-lover, Darren volunteered at the Library as soon as he moved to Lopez. He begins work in his capacity as Director on February 14 and is eager to meet people and hear how the library can better serve our community. “We moved to Lopez first and foremost because of the incredible community. We wanted to live in a place where people look out for each other, help each other, and work together to solve problems. I am honored to have the opportunity to do this in an official capacity at our island library.†Please stop by the library to say hi or stay tuned for an upcoming Village Square, a virtual meet and greet for those less comfortable meeting in-person.
With this appointment, Claudia Rempel, who has been serving in the capacity of Interim Director, will resume her role of Operations Manager, a key leadership position at the library. The Board would like to recognize Claudia for stepping up and taking on increased responsibilities over the last two years. Despite constraints during the COVID pandemic, Claudia has led the staff in increasing library services. Her leadership has been outstanding and successfully carried the library through very trying times.
The Board would like to thank the community for its ongoing support of the library and wish the new Director well.
Lopez Island Library Board of Trustees
Constance Euerle
Connie Holz
Michael Moore
Mindy Richardson
LeaAnne Rolla
