Mission Statement

Friends of the Alpine City Library is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and engaged community by supporting a public library in Alpine, Utah. Through collaboration, fundraising, and community outreach, we cultivate an inclusive environment that empowers individuals of all ages to explore, discover, and connect. Together, we work to build a stronger, more informed, and closer-knit community that values the essential role of libraries in promoting education, cultural
​enrichment, and intellectual curiosity.

THE TEAM

We are excited to work together with our community towards an important common goal!

Jennifer Wadsworth

Board President

Jennifer Wadsworth is an accomplished educator and mother of three with over ten years of experience working directly with education and youth-focused nonprofit and advocacy groups. In her most recent leadership role as the Health Commissioner for the Utah State PTA, she championed student wellness and worked to build crucial partnerships between lawmakers and community leaders. Jennifer is passionate about grassroots organizing and firmly believes in the transformative power of community-led initiatives that benefit societal well-being. In her free time, Jennifer is completing her MPA degree and enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and traveling with her family.  Her favorite children’s books are the Fancy Nancy Series, and "The Mystery at Number Seven Ru' Petite."

Brittany Willison

SECRETARY

Brittany Willison is a Podcast Coordinator in the book industry and an active member of the Alpine community. She and her husband have called Alpine home since 2020, and spend their days having fun with their three daughters, an Australian Shepherd named Pongo, and a ridiculous amount of house plants. An avid reader and devoted mom, Brittany loves sharing books from her own childhood with her girls. That’s one of the many reasons she’s devoted to bringing a library to Alpine: to share the joy of getting lost in the world of books.  Her favorite children’s book is “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear” by Don Wood.

Elizabeth Willison

Treasurer

Elizabeth Willison moved to Alpine in 2023 with her husband and two children. Her background is in physical therapy, including business ownership and management. When she is not working, you can find Elizabeth working through the stack of books she keeps by her bed. She loves reading and is passionate about bringing a library to the community. Her favorite children's book is
​"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." ​

Kristin Hagen

Activities director

Kristin is a mother and educator. She studied education, human development, and educational leadership at BYU. She spent many years as a classroom teacher, children's theater director, music teacher, tutor and reading specialist. She established a learning center offering classes and resources for students of all ages. Kristin is studying child psychology and various therapies to help meet the unique needs of learners, including her own children. She loves her family, the outdoors, exploring, reading, theater, gardening, and has a deep passion for the arts. She enjoys painting, singing, dancing, and crafting. Kristin has dreamt of creating a library and community center since moving to Alpine in 2013 with her husband and children. Her favorite children's ​books are "Stephanie's Ponytail" and ​"Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon."

Laura St. Onge

Community Engagement
​Director

Laura is the retired Vice President of Development and Corporate Relations at Thanksgiving Point, honored as the Employee of the Year in 2020, she has hiked 2,000 miles each year since she moved to Utah, she has a daylily named after her (“Lusty Laura St. Onge”), and she has spent 38 years working in nonprofits. But that list doesn’t include her years at the University System of Georgia, her status as a “plant freak” who used to own a landscaping company, or the thousands of students she has positively influenced in formal or informal ways. 

​Governor Cox appointed her to the Utah Arts and Museum Board. She also has a seat on the Alpine School District Foundation Board. Although Laura and her husband, Drew, moved to Utah to retire, her fingerprints are now all over Utah, where she is the mastermind behind events, campaigns, improvements and vision. As a child her favorite books were the Bobbsey Twins series by Laura Lee Hope. Now her favorite book as a Nana to read to her grandchildren is "The Most Magnificent Thing," by Ashley Spires.

Bethany Sorensen

Book Drive committee chair

Bethany Sorensen has lived in Alpine for nine years with her husband and three kids. She volunteers on the Prime Time Committee for Alpine City and has a passion for creating events and gathering places for community members.  Her favorite form of entertainment is reading and she enjoys any kind of hobby that can be done outdoors.  Her background is in broadcast journalism and she loves using those skills to benefit humanitarian causes. Her favorite children's book is "The Little House"
​by Virginia Lee Burton.

Jenn Qiao

volunteer coordinator

Jenn Qiao is a cofounder of East Meets Dress and a proud member of the Alpine community, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Passionate about fostering spaces for the local community, Jenn helps manage the Burgess Orchards Farmstand and is excited to help bring more opportunities for children and families to connect in Alpine. An avid reader, her favorite book to share with her girls is Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, a heartfelt story that reminds us that in the end, we have all that we truly need.

Abbie Brown

Youth LiaIson

Abbie Brown is a high school senior who loves reading and places deep value in the way books inspire, transport, and teach. As the Co founder and President of her schools Student Belonging Association her primary role has been to plan and organize fun monthly activities for the student body. Her experience has taught her how to create a fun, inviting environment for young people. Because of all the gifts libraries have given her growing up she want to ensure that the next generation of Alpine gets to experience the same wonder she did and she is committed to helping in any capacity she can. ​

In the News

Our efforts to bring a library to Alpine are featured in this Daily Herald article.  

Daily Herald Article