Board

Pronouns: she/her
Langara College

Suzanne Rackover has been Director, Library & Academic Success Centre, and CAPER-BC at Langara College since February 2023. Prior to that she was University Librarian at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver (2016-2023). Suzanne has been actively involved in a variety of professional organizations and consortia including being on the board of the BC Libraries Co-op, the Executive Board of the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA), and two terms as President of the Council of Post Secondary Library Directors of BC (CPSLD). Originally from Montreal, Suzanne completed a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University and a Bachelor and Master of Art History from Concordia University.

Pronouns: she/her
Coquitlam Public Library

Ann Johannes is the Community Development Liaison at the Coquitlam Public Library (CPL). In that role, she oversees all the outreach for CPL, including the mobile library bus and home delivery service. In addition, Ann sits on a number of community tables as well as three internal working groups within CPL – Calls to Action, Wellness and DEI. Her strong community development focus has increased CPL’s presence at community events and strengthened relationships with community partners. In her “past” life, Ann was a Chartered Accountant and an implementation consultant for a large software company. She was also Treasurer for a non-profit for 4 years as well as Treasurer at her children’s high school, which she also did for 4 years. Ann loves accounting almost as much as she loves reading.

Pronouns: she/her
Creston Valley Public Library

Saara Itkonen is the current Library Director of Creston Valley Public Library, in the Kootenays, and has worked as a librarian for the past 13 years.  Previous to her position in Creston, she spent over 8 years as a Children’s & Teen Librarian at Vancouver Public Library.  Saara is passionate about working in public libraries and using her role to help promote the values of community care, relational work, interdependency, and resiliency both with her staff, patrons, and the broader community.  She brings the experience of working within a large urban library system and a smaller rural library to her work on the BCLA board.  Saara lives in Creston with her partner, her 7 year old child, and their dog and cat.

Pronouns: she/her
North Vancouver City Library

I am a member of the Métis Nation BC and grew up on the shared territories of the Kwantlen, Wsanec, Sto-lo, Katzie, and Semiahmoo people (Langley). My ancestors hail from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the Métis homeland in Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg). I received my Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of British Columbia in 2012 and I currently work at the North Vancouver City Library as the Manager of Public Services. I have a strong professional interest in inclusive library services, spaces and workplaces, as well as in decolonization. I greatly value the opportunity to serve our professional community as part of the BCLA Board of Directors.

Pronouns: she/her
Okanagan College

Roën Janyk is currently the Interim Director of Library Services at Okanagan College, located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan People.  She has worked in public and academic libraries for almost 20 years. Her previous roles include Kelowna Campus Librarian and the College’s Digital Systems & Services Librarian. She has also worked with Okanagan Regional Library as a Sunday Youth Services Librarian for the past 12 years. Roën’s passions lie in reducing barriers to education, supporting student success in educational pursuits, advocating for open and low barrier learning resources, and promoting the importance of literacy from infancy to adulthood. She has worked on projects with BCcampus, served on committees with BCELN, and been involved with BCLA in a number of capacities over the years. She feels libraries are vital to supporting early literacy and ensuring people have the digital literacy skills necessary to be responsible digital citizens. Libraries are vital to supporting communities that are engaged, informed, and free to grow their minds. She lives in Kelowna, B.C. and spends her time trying to manage two small humans, a partner, two dogs, a cat, and a horse.

Pronouns: she/her
BCLA Executive Director

I am a white settler who lives and works in Victoria on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples, specifically the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. I’ve spent over 20 years in public library leadership with a focus on collections, technical services, and accessibility, although I’ve done a wide variety of library work including public services and programming for all ages. I’m passionate about advocating for libraries and library workers, and ensuring all people have equitable access to information, ideas, and works of the imagination. My approach to my work is informed by both my professional experiences and my personal experiences growing up in a blue-collar family as the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.