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SEEKONK - Three candidates are vying for two open three-year seats on the library board of trustees. Profiles, in alphabetical order, follow:

Deborah Bostian

Deborah Bostian, 57, a former nurse and teacher at Aitken Elementary School, wants to give back to the community by being on the library board. Bostian would like to see the library expanded, noting the number of visitors has quadrupled since its opening in 1981.

"The building needs to be expanded and updated to hold its collections of print and non-print materials," said Bostian. "As the building exists now, the only way to expand the collections is to reduce seating capacity."

Bostian has served as an elected representative town member and on the Seekonk Public Schools Strategic Planning Committee. "I am a very organized person, a good listener, and I think I work well with other people," Bostian said.

"If given a task, I put all my energy into it and see it through to completion. I have no special education or qualifications beyond an earnest desire to volunteer and help the library."

Laura Calverley

Laura Calverley, 45, wants to improve the quality of services the Seekonk Public Library provides. "I think we have a great library, and I want to help make it even better. I also believe my background in media and communications could be put to good use in the library trustee position," said Calverley, whose freelance work includes covering the town of Rehoboth for The Sun Chronicle.

Calverley wants a new park to be constructed in the back of the library after the completion of the Newman Avenue landfill capping project. The planned park, along with walking trails "would have educational value and the proposed open green space areas and amphitheater would offer a needed recreational and meeting place for families in town," she said.

In addition, Calverley believes the library needs to be expanded to meet the needs of the growing town population.

"I believe in taking a practical, common sense approach to important issues and working cooperatively with the library director and board to address the future needs of the library. I'm also very enthusiastic about the future of the library and will do my best to be an advocate for the community and help improve the library facility, collections and information access," said Calverley.

Cheryl Faria

Cheryl Faria, 55, is a longtime town resident who admits to being a fan of the library and library Director Sharon St. Hilaire. Faria admires the library's education programs, cultural events, and technological upgrades, and vows to help the library to maintain that success.

"I think they do a great job," Faria said. The planned park behind the library is something Faria is excited about.

Gardening is one of Faria's passions. Faria is a certified master gardener and has worked as an educator and an advertising executive.

Faria once ran her own marketing/consulting business in Rhode Island, which she believes provided her with managerial expertise. In addition, Faria has run entrepreneurial programs at Bryant University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

One idea that Faria proposes is the town connecting to the library's Web site to offer more information to residents.

"I'm very interested in helping," Faria added.