Severna Park’s Margot Argeles Selected As AACPL’s Second Student Board Member

She’s exemplary in academics, a second-dan (degree) black belt in taekwondo, captivated by STEM subjects, a committed volunteer, active in numerous school clubs, an avid photographer, a world traveler, and an ardent plant collector. And this school year, Severna Park High School (SPHS) senior Margot Argeles is serving as the Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) system’s student member of the board of trustees.

Argeles is only the second student to serve on AACPL’s 18-member board. Library CEO Skip Auld shared that the newly created position was inspired by Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ student board seat. Uniquely, both student members have full voting rights.

An AACPL statement announcing Argeles’ selection for the board seat explained that the student trustee position “provides the selected individual with an opportunity to learn about board governance and gain valuable real-world experience serving on a governing body. Additionally, the library and its board gain insight into students’ points of view on library resources, programs and materials.”

In addition to serving with the greater board of the trustees, Argeles is now a member of the board’s governance, strategy and organization subcommittee as well. She attended her first committee meeting on August 15.

Auld noted Argeles is a full participant who is not only a very likable person, but she also offers good insights.

“She’s keenly interested in the library, she’s used libraries her whole life, she’s an avid reader – which isn’t a prerequisite because libraries are so much more than just books … and what she said in her letter of application was she really wanted to bring the student perspective,” Auld said.

“I think she’s going to have a great year and she’s going to help us out a lot,” he added.

Raised in Severna Park, 17-year-old Argeles highlighted her love of both reading and the library system. From a young age, she has enjoyed summer reading programs, book clubs, and getting lost in good reads year-round. She shared that she picks up library books once or twice a month, and frequently borrows from AACPL’s online e-book collection as well.

“There’s been so many times that I walk out (of the library) with too many books that I can’t even carry, especially during COVID,” Argeles shared with a laugh. “There was one time that I had probably 40 books on hold, and for some reason they all came the same week, which is kind of unfortunate timing, but I had to do multiple loads to the car. By the time I was home, I had a stack of books taller than me!”

As student member of the AACPL board, Argeles brings the valuable perspective of a school-age library user and hopes to impact her community by representing younger audiences.

Throughout high school, Argeles has been highly involved in extracurriculars ranging from SPHS’ math team and women’s STEM club, to serving as an assistant taekwondo instructor, to participating on the Anne Arundel County Youth Advisory Council last year. During her junior year, she also studied abroad in Spain.

Helping others is a priority for Argeles, as well. With her family, she has volunteered with Giving Back, Linda’s Legacy (GBLL) for the past six years. She helps with the Anne Arundel County-based nonprofit’s annual toiletry drive to benefit people experiencing homelessness. And every Christmas, Argeles helps with her favorite GBLL tradition: making cakes for distribution to those in need. “My mom bakes them and I decorate them,” Argeles explained, stressing that GBLL has become near and dear to her heart.

Heading into her senior year of high school, Argeles has been applying to and visiting colleges as she contemplates what career path to pursue. Of course, campuses with spectacular libraries catch her attention. But before she gets to college, she is looking forward to all of the milestones that senior year brings such as homecoming and prom.

And, she is eager to learn more about all that AACPL does and offers as she advocates for community members of all ages to utilize the library’s resources.

“Seeing an increase in students who use the library, and the younger generation, (will be) a good outcome from my time on the board,” she said.