Peter Allen and his wife Nan are native Californians who have relocated back and forth between both coasts before settling in Anacortes a few short years ago. Peter is an avid reader, particularly science fiction and military history, especially World War 2 on the Eastern Front. Peter & Nan have two children, Evan (24) and Adair (22) both of whom are living and working in the Mid-west. Peter is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a member of the Oak Harbor VFW post.

Rachelle holds a Masters degree in Library and Information Science and brings 11 years of work experience as a librarian, and 7 years as a library director in both private and public libraries. One of her very first jobs was working in a bookstore, so reading is obviously a favorite hobby! If she's not reading, you can find Rachelle hiking local trails, kayaking, or volunteering as a Salish Sea Steward with her husband, Ben. "I was thrilled to find such an excellent library when we moved to Anacortes, and look forward to continuing to support the library through work with the Friend Shop."

Hal spent 30 years with the federal government as an analyst and policy expert, as well as a consultant on the Middle East before retiring to Anacortes. He currently is chairperson of the Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee, where he also served as treasurer.

Jenifer a recent transplant to Anacortes by way of Oregon. She has worked from home for the past 20 years as an intellectual property consultant. She is an avid hiker and reader, and loves to share her enthusiasm for reading.

Cissy’s roots and extended family are in the San Diego area. She spent twenty-two happy years working in various positions at the San Diego Housing Commission. One dream job led to another; her final project involved leading a team to knit together financial sources and the citywide political will to focus on homelessness. She and her husband, Rish, built their “dream house” overlooking the bay and then…found Anacortes. BOOM! She boasts of no artistic talents or outstanding qualities but everyone needs an audience, a little help, or a good book to read so she’s convinced there’s room for willing hands in this wonderful place.

Kandy studied to be a library technician and worked for The Boeing Company in the Technical Libraries for five years. She moved to Anacortes in 1992 and joined the Fidalgo Island Rotary Club in 1999. She is an avid library user and Friends member.

Susan retired to Anacortes after a career in publishing and as an analyst for the federal government. Susan has been active in Anacortes community affairs where she served as chair of both the Preservation Board and Anacortes Housing Authority. She enjoys local politics and has managed several campaigns. Susan has been an active member of the Friends of the Library.

Chris came to Anacortes from northern CA after 23 years in elementary education, an easy move as Anacortes was a vacation destination for many years prior to coming here permanently in 2015. Chris’s love of books, from mystery to supernatural fiction, had her visiting the library often, and she never missed an opportunity to stop by the BookShop. She enjoys being active in the community as a P.E.O., helping to raise money for scholarships and volunteering at the BookShop and library on Tuesdays. She loves to do crafting with different media, gardening, and spending time with family.

Lesley is a recent transplant to Anacortes from Colorado where she worked for the local Library Foundation for 3 years and saw firsthand the impact our Library nonprofits can have in our communities. Lesley is a lifelong Library lover and is proud to be a part of the positive impact the Friends have on this wonderful community.

Linda is no stranger to lovely Anacortes. She and her husband are the 3rd generation to live on their Similk Beach property. Born and raised in Seattle she is retired from her lighting and interior design business. While working and raising her daughter Emma a bookclub had always been in her life. When she retired 10 years ago and moved full time to Anacortes she wasted no time starting one. “I can’t imagine not having a book to read”. The library shop is a slice of heaven to work in and support.