"Send me your books, for the children of Gatlinburg have nothing to read."-Anna Porter, 1932
Library Staff
Ask Us Anything
Mandie is beyond thrilled to be living and working in the Smokies. She has been a library professional for almost 20 years. She is an avid home baker, an artist, a children’s book illustrator, and she will read anything as long as it keeps her interest.
Sean is a Gatlinburg native who enjoys to travel being as far North-west as Alaska and who
enjoys sci-fi and fantasy novels such as Star Wars or Game of Thrones. He is also an avid board
gamer, Settlers of Catan being one of his favorite.
Kaila can usually be found reading a classic like To Kill a Mockingbird, or enjoying a TV drama such as Downton Abbey or Stranger Things. She's fond of art and history as well as film studies and photography.
Jennifer loves to be immersed in a good story (regardless of genre), lush green trees, bad puns and especially her husband and four amazing children.
Lisa hails from the planet Earth; via the state of New Jersey, but officially calls Tennessee home. Lisa is enjoying life in the mountains with her boyfriend, her boxer-hound, Princess Leia, and her pug, Teddy E Bear.
Board of Trustees-Officers
Our amazing team is truly the core of Anna Porter Public Library. Their passion and commitment to helping our community creates an environment full of interesting and educational experiences for patrons to enjoy.
Chairperson
Debi retired from the Hillsborough County Public Schools where she served as principal, Director of Administration and Director of Human Resources.
Vice-Chairperson
Karen is an alumnus of UTK and LSU, holds a position on the board for the GSM advisory board, and is a member of the Pi Beta Phi Women's Fraternity.
Treasurer
Pam has been an avid reader all of her life. She lived in Michigan for her first 32 years, earning a BA in economics and an MBA in marketing. Since then, she has lived in Gatlinburg, working and raising 3 children who attended the local schools.
Secretary
Lisa Oakley is Vice President and Curator of Education with the East Tennessee Historical Society. She grew up in Gatlinburg and continues to live in the community. Anna Porter plays a leading role in her hometown memories.
Board of Trustees
Kenton Temple
I’m happily retired after 21 years as Director of Anna Porter Public in Gatlinburg and am very pleased to reconnect with APPL as a member of the Board of Trustees.
I live out in Sevier County near Douglas Lake and spend much of my summer time mowing, trying to keep my flowers happy, and watching the wildlife, which thankfully does not include bears. Besides reading of course, In my indoor time I paint with acrylics and like streaming murder mystery series, especially British ones. (I wrote my master’s thesis on detective novels.)
To get out of the house and connect with someone besides my two cats, Winston and Elizabeth, I play bridge and work part time at Ely’s Mill during the tourist season.
Sharon Mellor
Sharon K. Mellor, PhD, CAE holds the position of Chairperson. She is part of the innkeeping team at the Buckhorn Inn. She serves on the board of Objective: Veterans Smile, a non-profit organization to ensure dental care for veterans.
Sally Helton
Sally Helton has been an educator in the Sevier County School System since August 1999. She has worked as an English teacher at Pigeon Forge High School, librarian at Pi Beta Phi Elementary, and most recently librarian at Gatlinburg-Pittman Junior High. She enjoys reading, collecting books, talking about books, and traveling with her husband and two children.
Beverly Waldron
Beverly spent 40+ years in human resources with the State of Louisiana, Pinellas County (FL), and ended her career as HR Director for Hillsborough County Govt (FL). She and her husband, Bill, happily retired to Gatlinburg in 2019.
Tracy Starker
Tracy Starker is a native of Gatlinburg, TN and Retired US Navy. She holds a degree in General Studies from Skadgit Valley College and continues a persuit in Art and History. Tracy is an active member of the local community and has been assisting others in need for over a decade.
