Our Mission

Friends of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (Friends) is a (501)(c)(3) charitable organization established in 1988. As volunteers, we strive to serve our library well. Through our fundraising efforts, we enhance library programs and services beyond what is possible through traditional state and federal funding.

The Friends Board and Volunteers:

  • Encourage patrons to enjoy their library
  • Identify community needs
  • Suggest innovative solutions
  • Plan our annual meeting for patrons, volunteers and friends
  • Host a library staff appreciation day
  • Promote upcoming events
  • Raise funds to support special library initiatives
  • Collaborate with individuals, community groups, disability advocates, educators, and private and public sector partners

Meet the Board of Directors

To improve our library, the Friends Board meets quarterly with LBPD leadership.

Join us for our annual meeting and enjoy fellowship with library staff, volunteers, patrons, friends and families.

If you or someone you know is interested in advancing our mission by volunteering to serve on the Friends board, contact our president, Melissa Riccobono, at melissaariccobono@gmail.com.

2026 Board of Directors

The Friends organization is governed by a volunteer board whose backgrounds vary across industry and occupation, but all share a strong interest in supporting the mission of Friends and the library.

Board members are selected by nomination and typically serve for at least two years. Members frequently extend their term of service for several years or for the duration of specific projects.

Sharon Maneki

Sharon Maneki has been a member of the Board of Directors of Friends since the early 1990s. After serving as Vice-President of Friends for many years, she became President in the Fall of 2014. As a library patron, Sharon has a great interest in expanding its programs. Sharon has been an advocate for the blind for more than 30 years.

As a leader in the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, she helped to advocate for a new and improved building for the library. Sharon was a Research Analyst with the Department of Defense for 27 years, and lives in Columbia, Maryland.

Barbara Cheadle

The parent of a blind son, Barbara Cheadle presided over the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children from 1985 to 2008. She was the founding editor of Future Reflections, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) magazine for parents and teachers of blind children, which she edited for over 25 years.

After stepping down from that position, she launched a second career as a reference librarian at Bowie State University. A tireless Braille literacy advocate, Barbara is a charter member of the Friends board with many years of uninterrupted service. Barbara and her husband, John, live in Catonsville, Maryland.

Elizabeth Cooper

Liz is a retired St. Mary’s County Public Schools Reading Supervisor with a BS-Nursing and Masters Reading Ed. degrees. She is currently a full-time author.

Liz’s experiences as a delivery room RN, educator, educational toy store owner, and patented inventor, has provided Liz lots of material and ideas for children’s stories.

Three of her books are about children with disabilities. Liz was elected to the Board of Friends in 2022.

When not writing, she likes to kayak on the Potomac River, quilts, and makes stain glass. Liz lives in St. Mary’s County with her husband, Dave.

Mike Davis

Michael Davis was originally elected to the Board of Directors in 1990 and has been Treasurer
for Friends since 2000. He was introduced to Friends by one of the organization’s founders,
June Kleeman. Mike is passionate about the much-needed services the Library provides to
sight-impaired citizens of Maryland, especially children. He is a CPA and co-founder of
Anderson, Davis &; Associates, CPA, a local certified public accounting firm that specializes in
working with not-for-profit organizations. When he’s not running his business and trying to keep
up with his four children and their activities, Mike enjoys tinkering with automobiles and staying
active in various outdoor sunshine activities like surfing, skateboarding, biking and yard work.

Dr. Jinjuan Feng (Heidi)

Dr. Jinjuan Heidi Feng is a professor in the Computer and Information Sciences Department and the director of the School of Emerging Technologies at Towson University. She received a Ph. D. in Information Sciences from UMBC in 2005. She conducts research in the area of Human-Computer Interaction, universal accessibility, Health-informatics, and usable and accessible Security. She works closely with national and local communities to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through information technology. Her current research projects focus on assistive technologies for people with cognitive disabilities in educational and professional settings, mobile applications for health related activities, and accessible security techniques for individuals with visual or cognitive disabilities.

Her research has been funded by various national and state agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and TEDCO. Her work has been published in various top-notch journals and conferences such as Human-Computer Interaction, ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, and ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing. She is serving on the editorial board of ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing and is the general conference chair for the 18th ACM SIGACCESS International Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2016).

Gina Fugate

Gina Fugate is a Computer Science & Technology teacher at the Maryland School for the Blind. Her teaching experience also includes itinerant teaching in Kentucky and Tennessee. She is a first gen graduate of Berea College. She earned her M.Ed. in Special Education with an emphasis on Visual Disabilities from Vanderbilt University. Gina co-coaches the DOT5UDOGS, using Quorum Lego Robotics for First Lego League. She is a Certified Assistive Technology Integration Specialist (CATIS) and served as a 2021-2022 CSTA Equity Fellows. She is currently serving on the Engage AI Advisory Board. She is a Doctoral Candidate for an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in computer science via the University of Florida. Gina is a self-described Lifetime Learner with special interest in physical computing, robotics, accessibility, integrated classroom opportunities, and intersectionality. She enjoys collaboration with an emphasis on inclusion across all areas of representation.

Dr. Jonathan Lazar

Dr. Jonathan Lazar is a professor in the College of Information Studies (iSchool) at the University of Maryland where he is the incoming director of the Trace Research and Development Center, the nation’s oldest research center on technology and disability. Dr. Lazar has authored or edited 13 books on human-computer interaction, digital accessibility, and law and policy. He is the recipient of the 2020 ACM SIGACCESS Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computing and Accessibility.

Melissa Riccobono

Melissa Ricccobono was elected to the Board of Directors in the fall of 2014. She has a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and a B.A. in Psychology. She earned both degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Melissa moved to Maryland in 2004. She is an avid advocate for LBPH because two of her three children are visually impaired and will use the services. She and her husband are also patrons of the library.

Melissa has been a leader in the National Federation of the Blind for many years. She currently serves as President of the Maryland Parents of Blind Children division.

Ellen Ringlein

Ellen Ringlein was elected to the Board of Directors at the October 2021 Annual Meeting. Ellen was born
in Germany and moved to the United States at an early age. She maintains her love of foreign languages,
especially German. Ellen has a long history of work in the blindness field. She has been a Braille
instructor and the manager of the National Federation of the Blind Independence Market, a large store
that sells numerous blindness products. She plans to get a Braille transcriber certification from the
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress so that she can help other
people become certified proofreaders and Braille transcribers. As a library patron, Ellen will offer
valuable insight on Friends projects.

Gary Legates

A native of Easton, Maryland and Gary attended the Maryland School for the Blind, graduating in 1970. He then attended Western Maryland College, then McDaniel College majoring in Latin, French, and Education. He then went to Penn State where he earned an MA degree in Classics. Afterward, he taught Latin and French at Westminster High for thirty years, retiring in 2007. For the past several years, Gary has been writing books. His first was a book containing interviews with alumni of Maryland School for the Blind, which was published by the Alumni. He is currently writing a book about his education with hopes to publish sometime. He is married to Ninette, a classmate from Maryland School for the Blind and they will celebrate 49 years on 11/20.

Janet Sanford

Janet Sanford joined the Friends Board in October 2013. A native of South Jersey, she has lived in Maryland for the past 30 years. Since her retirement from the Baltimore County Public Library system, she works part time for the county library as well as helping out on the Reference Desk at LBPH. She is a former reader for the Baltimore Radio Reading Service and has been a volunteer at radio station WYPR.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, needlework, traveling, listening to music, watching Orioles baseball and marveling at smart technology. We are pleased to have Janet manage the Friends Facebook page.

Janice Samuel

Janice is a dedicated advocate for the blind and low vision community with extensive experience in financial management and compliance within federal agencies. She has proven leadership in nonprofit organizations and a strong commitment to improving legislation and services for individuals with visual impairments. She is skilled in risk management, organizational governance, and community engagement. She currently serves as Advisory Board member with the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington and as Orientation and Mobility Training Participant with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Janice has held several federal Civil Service positions and is a regular participant in monthly support group calls to foster a community of support among individuals experiencing blindness or low vision. She is a graduate of Hampton University with a BS in Finance.

Dezman Jackson

Dezman Jackson was elected to the Friends Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in October 2020.

He is an experienced Accessibility Support Engineer and has worked for such companies as TPG Interactive. As a person with national orientation mobility certification, Dezman taught orientation and mobility for many years. He still enjoys helping people travel in the community so that they may fully participate in life activities. Dezman is a library patron who enjoys reading and promoting library programs.

Dezman hails from Mobile, Alabama. He has lived in Baltimore for over 10 years.

Marla Migdal

Marla Migdal is a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist with a Master’s Degree in Special Education.  As the owner of Migdal Consulting, Marla supports parents throughout the entire IEP and 504 process, including conducting informal assessments and writing clear, meaningful, and measurable goals. As an advocate, Marla works collaboratively with schools and families to ensure students receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). She also provides one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing, and comprehension using evidence-based practices. Marla is listed as a specialist on the CERI (Center for Effective Reading Instruction) provider directory. Marla is the former leader of the Frederick County chapter of Decoding Dyslexia, where she championed the need for intensive, evidence-based interventions for students with dyslexia. She continues to advocate for early screening, early intervention, and equitable access to support across the state of Maryland. Marla also provides professional development for school districts and organizations statewide.