Bryan Bentley To Run For Plymouth District Library Board Of Trustees

My name is Bryan Bentley, and it is with great excitement that I announce that I will be seeking one of the four open seats on the Plymouth District Library Board of Trustees in the November election. Upon learning that there would be an open seat on the Plymouth District Library Board of Trustees, I immediately decided that I wanted to serve this library, and this Board.

A library has always been a special place for me. I can walk into a library, and escape from the world for awhile. I can grab a Grisham book and take a trip to Clanton, Mississippi, I can grab a Clancy book and ride along with Jack Ryan while he solves yet another world crises, or I can grab a James Michener book and learn a little history while enjoying his magical way of telling it.

When I moved to Plymouth over five years ago, I did two immediate things. I changed my address, and I obtained a library card. I immediately fell in love with the Dunning-Hough Library, and have had nothing but great experiences there. It is every bit community center, as it is a library, which makes the Plymouth District Library one of Plymouth’s greatest assets.

I have always endeavored to serve the community that I live in. In the Livonia community, I served as a Trustee, and President of the Clarenceville Schools Board of Education. In that capacity I believe that I have learned the skills necessary to be a valuable member of the Plymouth District Library Board. I have experience on hiring committees, budgetary process, community focus groups, and contract negotiations. During my time on the Clarenceville Board of Education, we renovated each library in our district into true multi-media learning centers. I believe that I can take those experiences, apply them to this job, and benefit our community’s library in a very positive way.

In Plymouth, I currently serve as the Associated Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA) representative. I am the civilian representative on VVA Board. As an AVVA member, our goal is to serve our veterans in many volunteer ways. I also write op-ed pieces here at the Plymouth-Canton Patch, but also enjoy doing some public service community announcements for the folks at the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Plymouth Council on Aging, Vietnam Veterans of America, and other community groups.

So, with the library holding a special place in my heart, I would like to make them a major part of my contribution to the community that we live in. I would never seek this seat, or make this commitment, if I felt that it would sacrifice from my other community endeavors, or if I didn’t feel that I was up for the job. Not only am I up for this job, I am already enjoying, and learning at the meetings that I am attending.

I am working overtime to get up to speed on the many issues that our folks at the library deal with, and If elected, I look forward to a seamless transition onto a great board, that will work to keep the Plymouth District Library one of Plymouth’s true gems.