Following her graduation from Iowa State University, Karen Murphy spent six months in the villages of India as part of a youth exchange program. Karen and her husband Gary have lived in Washington 40 years. They have three grown children and three grandsons and a granddaughter, born in December 2006. Karen explains, "Our travels to visit them this year will take us to Heidelberg, Germany; Portland, Oregon; and North Liberty, Iowa." Karen works part-time as an independent auditor for Washington State Bank. A member of the library's foundation for four years, Karen's favorite book is Material World , a pictorial essay donated by Karen Gorham which contrasts the circumstances and material goods of families throughout the world. On her most recent trip to the library, Karen arranged one of the children's shelves as part of the "adopt-a-shelf" program.