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Board of Trustees

The City of Homewood has a Mayor-Council Government headed by the mayor and eleven council members. All funds to the Library from the City are appropriated annually by the City Council.

The Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees (the Library Board) is legally responsible for the operation of the Library. Library employees are not under the Jefferson County Personnel Board. The Library Board establishes policies relating to employees and operations. The Library Board consists of 5 members each living in and representing one of the 5 city wards. They are appointed by the Homewood City Council.

The Library Board appoints the Director who is responsible for the operation of the Library. The Director acts in an advisory capacity to the Library Board and serves as the Secretary to the Board. The Director is not a member of the Library Board and has no vote on matters under consideration. It is the Director’s responsibility, with the approval of the Library Board, to prepare the budget, determine operating procedures, and handle all personnel matters.
The Homewood Public Library is a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC). The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) is the State Agency responsible for coordinating all Alabama public library services. Funds from the State and the County are appropriated through the Jefferson County Library Cooperative.

Current Board Members

Kirk Mobley, Chair (Ward 5)

Kirk is the Chief Investment Officer of a single-family office based in Birmingham and lives in Homewood with his wife, Ellen, and their two sons. He's a graduate of The University of Virginia and The University of North Carolina. Kirk serves as the library liaison to the Homewood Library Foundation. 

Dr. Keya Kraft,  Vice-Chair (Ward 3)

Keya Kraft is Director of Economic Development at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and lives in West Homewood with her family and dog Louie. An avid reader, Keya holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis and a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary.

Rosa Hill , (Ward 1)

Rosa has lived in Alabama for over 16 years, and she has been a realtor for ARC realty specializing in home sales in the Birmingham and Homewood markets for 11 years. She is married with three lovely boys who enjoy using the library. Rosa speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys helping the diverse communities of Birmingham with their real estate needs. 

Mike Higginbotham, (Ward 2)

Mr. Higginbotham has spent most of his adult life in the public sector as either an employee or elected official. He was elected to two terms on the Birmingham Board of Education (2002, 2006) and one term on the Homewood City Council (2016). Mike received a B.S. in Political Science and English as well as a Master of Public Administration at UAB. He lives in West Homewood with his wife and daughter.

Megan Cheek, (Ward 4)

Megan Cheek is the Communications and Development Director for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice where she confronts unjust systems through research, bridge building, and advocacy to create an Alabama that prioritizes justice and opportunity. She lives in Homewood with her husband and three feisty children and serves on the board of Girls Rock BHAM. She is a former president of the Homewood Library Foundation

Dr. Paul Doran, Emeritus Trustee

Dr. Paul Doran served on the Library Board from 2010-2024 as a representative for Ward 4. For his dedication and service, he was appointed as an Emeritus Trustee by the Library Board on 5/21/24.  He has also served on numerous Foundation Boards over the years and was the driving force behind the development of the Homewood Library Foundation.

Dr. Carlos Alemán, City Council Liaison

Dr. Carlos E. Alemán is the CEO of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!). In August 2020, Dr. Alemán was elected to Homewood's City Council, becoming the first Latino elected to public office in Alabama. He also serves on the boards of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), Alabama Forward, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, REV Birmingham, and Red Mountain Park. He is passionate about education, community development, public outdoor spaces, entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for others. An immigrant from Nicaragua, Dr. Alemán grew up in San Francisco. He received his BA in History and Latin American/Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz and his Ph.D. in History from Michigan State University. A former faculty member at Agnes Scott College and Samford University, Dr. Alemán taught history and Latin American Studies. 

Judith Wright, Library Director

In July 2022, Mrs. Wright was appointed as the 7th Library Director of the Homewood Public Library. During her time at the Homewood Public Library, she has worked in the Children's, Circulation, Adult/Teen Services, and Administration Departments. Mrs. Wright holds a Bachelor's in Art History from UAB and a Master's in Library and Information Studies from UA. She is currently certified through NASA to borrow lunar and meteorite samples from the Johnson Space Center. Mrs. Wright is also a member of the Homewood-Mountain Brook Kiwanis Chapter