At the Library: A venue for art and music

By Isabella Santoro, Member of the Washington Public Library board of trustees

I have been a member of the Washington Public Library board of trustees since July 2019, a full-time resident of Washington for the last 10 years, and homeowner since 2015. I applied to fill the board position because I think the library is one of the most important services a city can offer. It is a source of knowledge on so many topics and a venue for public art and music. It provides invaluable programming for both children and adults, offers safe, convenient meeting spaces for a myriad groups and events, and serves as a warm and welcoming place for all people. I am proud to have such a high quality building right on our town square that is also visually pleasing and energy efficient. I have always been extremely impressed with the staff, everyone from the young pages to the more senior members. All library employees offer top notch customer service and are always quick with a smile.

My background is in the customer service industry, and prior to that I was in the International Relations field, in which I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa along with minors in Spanish and French. Right out of college I worked for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, after which time I decided to make a career change and I returned to Iowa to work in the family business, Café Dodici. I have been running our coffee and gift shop, Dodici's Shop, for ten years however, I wear many hats and you will often see me in the restaurant and also promoting all three businesses (our Dodici Night Suites too) on social media.

My passions lie in the arts and helping people. I have served on the board of the local nonprofit 'LET's Center for the Healing & Creative Arts” since its inception in 2014 and I am highly active in my PEO Chapter, helping local women and families pursue higher education and overcome financial difficulties. I am also a member of our local AAUW Chapter (American Association of University Women) through which I assist in the annual reception for the National Honor Society student reception and finding speakers for the local WRAP Center for students to learn about different career options. My hobbies include quilting, reading, biking, and walking our beautiful Kewash Trail.

My personal background is somewhat international. My mother is from Washington, IA but lived in Italy for about 30 years, so I was born and raised there and move to Washington my senior year of high school. In hindsight, I am grateful for that timing because it allowed me to meet lots of local people around my age before everyone scattered off to college and jobs. Many, like myself, have returned to their hometown. I am fortunate that having an international family and a flexible work schedule allows me to pursue one of my greatest passions - traveling the world! However, as much as I enjoy seeing other countries, I am always happy to return to my cozy home in Washington. I love knowing so many people in town and being involved in so many groups. I strongly believe Washington is a wonderful place to live, work, and visit and I have served on the Hotel Motel Tax Administration Committee since 2017 in an effort to spread that message and increase tourism to our city. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on this board and promote our free public library.