Get to Know Your Board of Trustees – David Reeser

by Valerie Lloyd | Oct 31, 2017 | Board of Trustees | 0 comments

My name is David Reeser, and I am the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Madison Library District.  I have been a member of the Library Board for over 2 years now and I love this opportunity to support the library and the library staff.  I am married to an amazing lady, Brenda, and we have 4 children and 2 wonderful grandsons.  I currently teach Government, AP Government, and classes on the Holocaust and Human Rights at Madison High School.  

My mother, Cheryl Reeser, was a long-time employee of the Madison District Library.  She started as the Children’s Librarian and eventually became the Director of the library until her death in 1992.  I spent my childhood in our library.  As a family, we were also the custodians so I went with my father to the library each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to vacuum, empty wastebaskets, mop, mow the lawn in the summer, and clear the sidewalks of snow in the winter (my first experience working a snowblower!).  Often, while growing up, I would find myself in the library finding new books, listening to music, and watching old films on a 16mm projector my mom would set up for me in the staff break room.  Those were wonderful experiences and I have fond memories of my time working and learning in the library. 

A couple of years ago, when I learned that the library board had 2 vacant seats and they were looking for candidates to run, I decided it was a great opportunity to help the library continue to be a great asset in our community.  I ran unopposed and am very happy to be on the Board of Trustees to support the great work the staff does on behalf of the patrons of our library. 

As a Government teacher, and as someone who has studied the Holocaust for years, I have a book recommendation: “On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” by noted Holocaust and European historian Timothy Snyder.  It contains warnings from the past century on how fragile democracy can be and what we can do to preserve ours.  One quick quote, “Stand out.  Someone has to.  It is easy to follow along.  It can feel strange to do or say something different.  But without that unease, there is no freedom.  Remember Rosa Parks.  The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.” 

Please come and enjoy all the library has to offer!