Meet Us

Lillian Brisbois Letters developed a love of reading at an early age, visiting the local library with her mother and four sisters, starting when she was too small to see over the librarian's desk. Weekly visits to the library played an important part in her love of reading and understanding of the importance of books to a child's overall development. Ms. Letters and her husband moved to Santa Fe in 2007, after visiting annually starting in 1998. She has volunteered or worked in public schools for most of the past 40 years and is happy to share her experience as a member of the Friends Board. Member of the Board since July 2023

After visiting North-Central New Mexico beginning in the summer of 1980, William finally moved to Santa Fe (with his partner/husband of 45 years) in the fall of 2022. He earned a masters degree in Library and Information Science and began his career in librarianship in the summer of 1992 at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, after many years as a work-study student and other paraprofessional positions in academic libraries. He is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Santa Fe Public Library (began in June 2024) and looks forward to adding energy and expertise to the current members of the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library Board of Directors and the Administrative "Friends" Team. His interests include: hiking, travel, attending live music and other performance-related events, and taking a deeper dive into exploring beyond Santa Fe and its adjacent areas. The "Land of Enchantment" has to be the most apropos state motto in all of the U.S. Member of the Board since October 2025

Newby decided to move to Santa Fe in 1986 and being an impulsive person, it only took him 34 years to become a full-time resident. He started looking for community engagement/volunteer opportunities and the Friends seemed to be a great fit. Becoming the chair of the Finance Committee ties together a fond childhood memory of getting a library card as a six year old (his first official ID!), a long time association with adult literacy programs in the Pacific Northwest, a lifetime of reading (mostly non-fiction) and a 40+ year career in financial services. Member of the Board since July 2022

Kat is an advocate for stories—and what better place to champion them than the public library, the great intellectual equalizer? She is an independent filmmaker who believes in story-first productions, working across music videos, branded content, and documentary film. But her love affair with libraries and reading started long before filmmaking. In the 90s she founded K-READ, a marketing and promotions firm that worked with states and public libraries to promote the joy—and importance—of reading. Kat graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in advertising and a minor in art history. She continued her education through the University of Chicago’s publishing program and Columbia College’s Center for the Book. Serving with the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library feels like a wonderful return to her love of books and libraries. She is particularly interested in helping make the library a place that feels relevant, welcoming, and, yes, genuinely cool to younger and more diverse audiences. At home, Kat dotes on her shelter dog, Stella Fe, and serves as studio assistant, occasional muse, and general helper to her husband, who works in micaceous clay. Stella Fe, naturally, considers herself the real boss.

Sarah Lane Alpers grew up in California and went to college in Seattle before finding her way to Santa Fe. Her first job in New Mexico was as the entire science department at Pecos High School, but Sarah transitioned out of education and into storytelling. She works raising puppies with Assistance Dogs of the West and as a book buyer at Collected Works Bookstore. She spends her free time weaving on her rigid heddle loom, making stained glass, and spending time with her friends and her wonderful husband Nick. In partnership with the Friends, she started Santa Fe Story Lab in May of 2025.

Patricia grew up appreciating different cultures, from living in Beirut, Bombay, Rome, and Washington DC, before working in law and public policy in Boston and Seattle. As Health Services Director for Santa Fe County from 2012 until 2024, she worked with many community service and governmental entities. She believes that libraries enhance community health and envisions the Santa Fe Public Library playing an even more prominent role in the community’s well-being in the coming years. Member of the Board since June 2024

As a nonprofit professional Joan has held leadership positions for several organizations across the country including the National Endowment for the Arts; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. She is former Executive Director of Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Austin. She has long supported education and literacy initiatives. Member of the Board since July 2022

A longtime community volunteer, CJ is excited to bring her experience and passion to the Friends of the Library. CJ has served on nonprofit and homeowners’ association boards for more than two decades, including eight years here in Santa Fe and several years in Mountainair, NM, where she led efforts to modernize bylaws and strengthen organizations. Her volunteer work also extends to animal welfare, with leadership roles at the Snyder Foundation for Animals, Prairie Dog Pals, and People for Native Ecosystems. Whether helping update policies, managing grants, or supporting causes she loves, CJ is committed to making a difference—now for one of our community’s greatest treasures: the public library. Member of the Board since February 2025

Marie Schow grew up in Colorado, found her way to Santa Fe in 2013, and loved it too much to leave. Libraries have always been central to her as a lifelong reader, and she believes a strong public library is a foundational and necessary community resource. Marie was a member of the Santa Fe Library Advisory Board form 2017-2024, serving as the President starting in 2019. She works at a local nonprofit (Resolve) doing operations and fundraising, and also volunteers with Girls on the Run Santa Fe. In her free time, she likes to read (of course), run, make funny-looking ceramics, and hang out with cats.

Elaine Sullivan has been a lifelong volunteer, starting as an eager 10 year old with her hometown library in Mayfield, Kentucky. She spent Saturday afternoon checking out books and accepting late fees from patrons. Later on, Elaine’s career was focused on non-profit and corporate consulting on all matters of human resource development. Since retirement, Elaine has returned to her volunteering roots and supports the Santa Fe community through her work with NewMexicoWomen.org, the Living Wage Network, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity (AFLEP). Elaine believes libraries are part of the critical glue that brings a diverse community together.

Dwayne was raised in Albuquerque, NM and graduated UNM with a BA in marketing. He soon thereafter moved to San Diego, CA for ten years and worked for a publishing company in marketing. After San Diego Dwayne moved to Los Angeles for another ten years in the publishing marketing industry. Dwayne and his husband moved to Santa Fe in 2018 and one of the first things he did was get his public library card. Dwayne is currently the Vice President of Philanthropy at Kitchen Angels. He has been a voracious reader since he was a kid and now enjoys reading fiction and Classic Literature books. Member of the Board since January 2024

Dr. Mavel Velasco comes originally from La Paz, Bolivia, the highest capital in the world. The altitude is one reason, among many others, she feels very comfortable in Santa Fe. She received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University in New Jersey and taught Hispanic Studies for over 30 years at Virginia Wesleyan University. Reading is her passion and she would like younger generations to become as passionate about books as she is. Mavel also enjoys running, dancing and traveling. Member of the Board since March 2024

Leslie Zane's earliest reading memory was visiting her neighborhood library in New York City and asking her mom to check out "I'll Be You, And You Be Me", by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak. Her first job was working at that library as a teenager and loving it. Leslie first moved to Santa Fe in 1983 to work at the Santa Fe Opera and left in 1988 to pursue a career at several non-profits in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Redwood City library. Leslie tutors students in reading and writing, facilitates a monthly book club on Zoom, volunteers at MEG senior center, is a member of three online improv groups and just published her third book of poetry. In her spare time, she hikes, plays pickleball, and loves reading literary fiction. Leslie and her husband moved back to Santa Fe in 2019. Member of the Board since March 2024

Margaret joined the Santa Fe Public Library in July, 2022. Prior to this, she was Library Administrator for the Thomas Brannigan Memorial Library in Las Cruces and served as Co-Director for the El Paso Public Library, in the town where she grew up. As Director, Margaret provides strategic leadership for Library operations. Her vision is to build on progress made over the last several years to update systems and to expand outreach and services such as adult basic education, citizenship, ESL, STEAM programs, and early childhood literacy programs.