About WVLC
Meet Our Commissioners
The Library Commission consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
- Betty Gunnoe, Chairman worked at the Martinsburg Public Library for 41 years until her retirement on December 31, 2007 (including a term of 16 months as Acting Library Director). She is a past president of the West Virginia Library Association and has served on the WVLA Executive Board (Federal Relations Coordinator and various association committees) for the past 20 years. In 2004, WVLA presented Gunnoe with the Dora Ruth Parks Award. Betty is a lifelong resident of Martinsburg, has served as president of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, and is currently serving on the Martinsburg City Council representing the Fifth Ward. Gunnoe is an Executive Board member of Shepherd University’s Scarborough Society, the fund-raising arm of Shepherd’s Scarborough Library. Ms. Gunnoe was appointed to the Library Commission in 2009, resides in the Second Congressional District, and her term expires on June 30, 2012.
- Dennis C. Altizer currently serves as the assessor for McDowell County, an office he was first elected to in 1990. He has also worked for the West Virginia Division of Highways, the United Mine Workers, and as southern regional coordinator for Senator Jay Rockefeller. Altizer is a veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He resides in the Third Congressional District and his term expires on June 30, 2013.
- David B. Dalzell, Jr. currently serves as Senior Vice-President, Trust and Investment Services at WesBanco, Inc., based in Wheeling, West Virginia. He serves as Secretary on the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Inc. Board of Trustees and is also active with the Ohio River Valley Boy Scouts, Simpson United Methodist Church, Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library, Appalachian Outreach, Inc., West Virginia Independence Hall, Valley Hospice, Russell Nesbitt and the Wheeling Symphony. With many of these organizations he has held a leadership position (frequently the position of president). Dalzell served as Chair, of the Trustee Section of the West Virginia Library Association and has remained active in WVLA for many years. He has degrees from Allegheny College (B.A.) and Wheeling Jesuit University (M.B.A.). He currently serves as Adjunct Instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University. Mr. Dalzell resides in the First Congressional District and his term expires on June 30, 2013.
- Dr. Charles A. (Chuck) Julian, PhD. currently serves as Manager, Knowledge-Based Services/Intellectual Property at the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University. He has over 30 years experience as a professional librarian and has worked in every type of library except a public library. He is a native of Wheeling and active in the local community (including past service as a public library trustee) and has degrees from Glenville State College (BA); University of Sheffield, England (MAIS); George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University (MLS); and the Florida State University (PhD). He remains an active member of the West Virginia Library Association (holding numerous offices including President); is a recipient of WVLA’s Dora Ruth Parks Award; and has served on the Library Commission since 2000. The 2009-10 year marks his inaugural year as Chair of the Commission. He resides in the First Congressional District and his appointment expires on June 30, 2012.
- A. Merle Moore enjoys the longest tenure of current library commissioners, having been appointed originally in 1991. Active in the library and information profession for over 45 years, she has served as Director of the Clarksburg-Harrison County Public Library (for 20 years) and retired from the position of Librarian at the National Mine Safety and Health Academy’s Technical Information Center. She served as Executive Director of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and is a founder of Clarksburg’s West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. As director of Webster Springs Main Street program she inaugurated the Burgoo International Cook-Off. While library director at Clarksburg, she established the Gray Barker Collection (materials related to unidentified flying objects) and has served as a member of the Webster-Addison Public Library board of trustees. Moore is a long-time member of the West Virginia Library Association where she has held various leadership positions. As owner of Back Fork Press, she worked with author Davis Grubb and has earned degrees from Glenville State College, University of Pittsburgh (MLS); and West Virginia University (MPA). Miss Moore resides in the Third Congressional District and her term expires on June 30, 2010.
- Connie Shumate is director of the Princeton Public Library. She began her library career in a private college setting and has worked in public libraries for more than 20 years. Shumate was employed at the Cabell County Public Library in the reference department and later as the head of the audio visual department. She then served as Director of Wayne County Public Libraries before moving to Princeton. Currently, she is working with the Library Board of Directors in an effort to raise 4.2 million dollars to complete the renovation of a historic building to serve as the new public library scheduled to open in June of 2010. Shumate is also employed as curator of the Princeton Railroad Museum and works with the local convention and visitors bureau to promote tourism in Southern West Virginia. She is active in the local community and is the chairperson of the Celebrate Princeton Street Fair Committee, head of the City of Princeton Centennial Committee, a board member of Mercer County Read Aloud and the Literacy Volunteers of America. Shumate holds degrees from Beckley College, Concord University, and the University of South Carolina. She resides in the Third Congressional District and her appointment expires on June 30, 2013.
- Mary B. Strickland is an educator with 33 ½ years experience in the public school system and retired in 2004 from her position as English and special education teacher at Gilmer County High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Glenville State College (GSC), a master’s degree in special education from West Virginia University, and has remained an active member of the GSC Alumni Association including a term as Alumni Council President. Strickland is a member of the Glenville State College Foundation Board and is an American Red Cross volunteer. Her interests include antiques and gardening and she resides in the First Congressional District. Her term expires on June 30, 2011.
- Dennis C. Taylor is the owner and manager of DCT Advisors LLC and an attorney licensed to practice law in West Virginia who works as a consultant primarily in the higher education and government relations arenas. Mr. Taylor previously served as Vice Chancellor for Administration for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Community and Technical College System and as public higher education’s primary contact with the West Virginia Legislature. He served as chief of staff for the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, general counsel and director of human resources for Tyler Mountain Water Company, Inc., an associate with the law firm of Goodwin and Goodwin, LLP, and a judicial law clerk for United States District Court Judges Joseph R. Goodwin and Robert C. Chambers. Mr. Taylor earned degrees from Washington and Lee University (J.D.) and Marshall University (B.A. and M.A.). He was appointed to the Library Commission in 2009 and resides in the Second Congressional District. His appointment expires on June 30, 2010.
- Katy White is a homemaker and mother of five children ages 17 to 30. From 1976 through 1980 she taught as an instructor/assistant professor of Psychology at West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University). She has been active as a library and Read Aloud volunteer for over 20 years; is currently a member of Friends of the Kanawha County Public Library; and a board member of Read Aloud West Virginia. Ms. White has a BA from the University of Toledo and an MS from St. Louis University. She resides in the Second Congressional District and has served on the Library Commission since 2003. Her term expires on June 30, 2011.