Mid-Columbia Libraries Board of Trustees Welcomes New Member Ivone Guillen

Ivonne Guillen

Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) welcomes Ivone Guillen as the newest member of its Board of Trustees. She was officially appointed to the seven-member library board by a joint resolution of Benton and Franklin County Commissions on March 9.

Guillen has extensive experience in public service and is dedicated to working for social change that embraces, protects, and equips vulnerable and underserved communities. She joined the Broetje Family Trust in fall 2020 as an immigration outreach manager. In this role, she leads a new initiative aimed at reaching and supporting immigrant communities in the Tri-Cities. She is also currently the vice chair of the Tri-Cities Immigrant Coalition (TCIC).

Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, Guillen has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish from Gonzaga University and a Master of Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C., with a concentration in public policy analysis.

In her role on the MCL Board of Trustees, Guillen says she seeks to further strengthen library accessibility, expand community participation, and build on MCL’s efforts surrounding inclusion, equity, and diversity. As a DACA recipient herself, she knows firsthand the barriers many families face and believes equitable access to services is key.

“Growing up, I spent hours each summer at the Pasco branch reading and doing research on computers,” Guillen recalls. “I was able to access libraries largely due in part to mentors who directed me to the library. I took that practice with me when I left the area. Literacy and equitable access to resources are some of the ways people can really expand their horizons.”
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Board member terms are seven years. The Board is the policy-making body for the library district. Board meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month and are open to the public and comments are welcome.

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