Marsha Everton, a long-time resident of York County, recently moved to Cumberland County.  She enjoys living on the Susquehanna River in Lemoyne, PA.

Her new home library is the beautiful Cleve J. Fredricksen Library.  During her years in York, Marsha’s library home was Martin Library, a location that was literally across the street from her office at The Pfaltzgraff Co.

Marsha’s three children, now young adults, were raised with the help of Martin Library and especially enjoyed the Summer Reading programs.

Marsha was elected to the Board of the York County Library System (YCLS) in 2007, serving for 10 years.  In the last two years of her term, she also served as Board Chair.  Some of Marsha’s accomplishments during her term included:

• Development of a library strategy to support York County’s adaptation to a new economy.
• Consolidation of branch libraries and specific library infrastructure elements to provide higher quality, lower cost services to the citizens of York County – including the integration of Martin Library as a branch of YCLS.
• Creation of key governance initiatives, including formation of an Audit and Information Technology Committee.
• Succession planning and selection of a new President for YCLS.

Marsha is strongly committed to her beliefs that:

• Libraries are critical to sustaining a knowledge-based democracy.
• Public libraries are critical to the lifelong learning that allows Pennsylvanians to find professional growth and jobs that pay a living wage.
• Strong school libraries and professional librarians are the key to teaching our children how to navigate a world of data that needs to be shaped into factual information.
• Childhood literacy programs provide the critical foundation for individual development and a readiness that gives our Pennsylvania schools the opportunity to teach and reach for new levels of academic and economic achievement.
• Pennsylvania libraries power progress!!!

Marsha was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Library Development in 2014, initially serving as a Library Trustee representative.  In 2018, she was reappointed as a Lay User of Libraries and as Chair of the Marketing Committee.

Professionally, Marsha serves as a Director & Advisor for a range of for-profit and non-profit organizations.

In the for-profit sector, she currently serves as a director for Integrus Holdings, Inc. and The Fitzpatrick Companies Inc. and on the advisory board of Lion Brothers Company Inc. She also served a ten-year term as a director of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

In the non-profit sector, she serves on the board of Tres Bonne Annee and as a mentor to artists in the International Santa Fe Folk Art Market programs.  Previous non-profit board service includes the National Retail Federation Foundation and York County Community Foundation.

In addition to her board work, Marsha is a principal in The AIMsights Group, consulting and conducting research to help companies reach their target customers.

Marsha previously worked for over 20 years for The Pfaltzgraff Co., rising to the position of President & CEO.  In a series of leadership roles, she developed Pfaltzgraff as the leading casual dinnerware brand and company in the United States.

Marsha is passionate about the evolving role of Pennsylvania libraries in the new economy.

Her passion is clear in her response to our question about her view on the role of libraries in our communities.

“EVERY THING and EVERY EXPERIENCE is changing as our society adapts to having massive amounts of data and information literally at our fingertips.

Many historians believe that the 15th century invention of the Gutenberg Press was the most important technological transformation point in human history.  The mechanical moveable type allowed production of multiple copies of books in a mere fraction of the time that it took to hand copy manuscripts. The state of literacy and learning in the world was forever altered, catalyzing the shift from the Agricultural Age to the Industrial Age and from one-on-one apprenticeship learning to mass education models.  – And libraries were a key driver in providing access to that new learning technology!!!!!

The impact of the current disruptive technologies of computing, the internet and mobile access is comparable to that transformation.  Literacy and learning are being redefined.  We are moving from a model of mass education to education that will be highly customized for individuals.  We are moving from “once and done” learning in institutions to a requirement for individual lifelong learning in order to stay relevant in our fast-changing world.  – And, again, libraries are a key driver in providing access to the new (as well as old) technology!!!

Libraries truly power progress!!!”

Marsha’s favorite book of all time is Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton.  Her much-used, tattered copy remains in her personal book collection, reminding her of the original inspiration for her interest in engineering and problem-solving.  This interest led to her studies at Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University – and a career in technology products, database marketing and fact-based decision-making.  Mike and Mary Anne’s story also became the foundation for including innovation in every process and decision – illustrating the importance of having “fresh eyes” when you look at what appear to be the facts – to discover new ways to move forward.

Each month, a member of the GAC will be profiled in the Compendium. Learn about the Governor’s Advisory Council.