By James Pruitt
A Chelsea woman who works as a professor in Ohio is the new trustee on the Chelsea District Library Board.
The board selected TJ Helfferich to replace Robin Wagner who is resigning in January. Helfferich will serve the remaining year of Wagner’s term and will be able to apply for the full term.
The board spent nearly 90 minutes interviewing the five candidates.
Helfferich is an eight-year resident of Chelsea and is an assistant professor of history at Ohio State University-Lima. She wanted to give something back to the community and thought serving on the board would be the best way to accomplish that.
She counts her experience writing and receiving a grant to go to Germany to study 17th century documents as a strength that will help her on the board.
She said she got a library card as soon as she moved to town and uses it to get books on tape for her commute to Ohio. She also uses the study rooms.
Helfferich will join the board in February. Other newcomers in January will be Susan Lackey of Sylvan Township and Ann Merkel, who was appointed by the Chelsea City Council Monday night.
Lackey will replace Gary Zenz who is retiring from the board and Merkel will take over for Susan Brown.
(If you’d like to contact James Pruitt, please email him at [email protected].)
