Carol Ross Thomas

Carol Ross Thomas has more than 20 years with the County of Los Angeles where she has worked with several County Departments. These departments include, the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and the Public Library. She currently is in County Public Library Management as a Program Director managing volunteers.

More than 10 of those 20 years with the County of Los Angeles, Mrs. Thomas has worked with library volunteers. As the Program Director of the County Library’s volunteer program she leads and directs a comprehensive volunteer program of more than 1,500 volunteers who donate approximately 114,000 hours per year. She also serves as a liaison/consultant with 75 Friends of the Library who donate thousands of dollars to the County Library. In 1998, Ms. Thomas developed and implemented the County Library’s first successful staff training on volunteers, which has been held five times. She, along with a committee of library staff, developed a Volunteer Handout and Staff Handbook Procedures for library volunteers and staff. In November 2000, she coordinated a statewide workshop on volunteer recognition at the California Library Association Conference in Santa Clara. She is the Past President of the Directors of Volunteers in Agencies-Los Angeles (DOVIA), and is currently their Vice President of Education/Programs.

Mrs. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1982, from California State University in Los Angeles. She also received an Associate in Arts Degree from Pasadena City College in 1980.