Meet the Director & Board

Monica Burkhart

Library Director

Monica has 25 years of library experience with the past 20 years as the library director. She knows just about everyone who comes into the library and what their preferences are in reading material, She loves her job, the beach, traveling and spending time with her family. She is a life-long resident of Patton and has three children and four grandchildren.

Georgie Venesky

Library Assistant

Georgie Venesky started at the library as an assistant in June of 2020. She attended Penn State Altoona and graduated in 2018 with an Associates of Arts in Letters, Arts and Sciences. Georgie has returned to Patton after living in the State College area for a year and a half. She is very excited to be starting a new job at our library.

Patricia Willett

President, Board of Directors

Patricia is a retired Records Supervisor, having retired from the State Correctional Institution in Cresson. She is a life-long resident of Patton and is married and has two daughters and four grandchildren. She has been a member of the Library Board of Directors since January 2002 and is presently the Board President.

Dean Dietrick

Vice President, Board of Directors

Dean is a retired manager of Custodial Services at St. Francis University. He is a firefighter with The Patton Fire Company and a trustee at The Methodist Church. He is a lifelong resident of Patton and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. He has been a member of the Library Board of Directors since 2019 and is currently the Vice President.

Patricia Ridinger

Secretary, Board of Directors

Patricia is a retired school teacher, having taught second grade for 34 years at Cambria Heights. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Patton when she began teaching at Cambria Heights in 1970. Patricia is an animal lover and has two Shelties that she shows in Obedience at dog shows. She has been on the Library Board of Directors since 1976 and has been secretary for 44 years.

Bobbie Cammarata

Board of Directors

Bobbie is a retired school teacher, having taught for 35 ½ years at Cambria Heights. She is a life-long resident of Patton and is married, has one son and three grandchildren. Bobbie has been a member of the Library Board of Directors since June, 1996.

Mike Strasser

Board of Directors

Cambria Heights Grad, class of 1978
Penn State, Mary Grove, IUP, Gannon

Mike has 37 years in education as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, middle school principal, and high school principal at both Glendale and Cambria Heights schools. Mike retired as Cambria Heights Superintendant in 2021. Mike is a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Parish Council at Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Mike is married to Janine (Baker) Strasser and has two boys, Adam and Zach, and a grandson Joey.