The Issue:
Three Pawlet Public Library Trustees—Cori Rail, Lauren Herbert, and Sue Laporte— have fulfilled a personal agenda to rehire a formerly dismissed library director. Their decision was opposed by the two remaining trustees, who believe that such action undermines the well-being of the library and the community it serves. According to the Trustee Board Training Manual and other resources (see links below), the trustees' decision fails to fulfill their duty to understand the community's needs and ensure the library’s continued well-being and success. Instead, this decision reignites past conflict and effectively destroys the core of the library that we know and love.
Despite the press that has implied otherwise, many of those intimately involved with the library felt that the firing of this previous director was justified. But regardless of the reasons for her dismissal, the vast majority of the library community simply wants to leave division and difficulties behind and move forward with someone new. If the other highly qualified candidate had been chosen, we would now be welcoming and celebrating a brand new director. Instead, all of the library staff and volunteers have now resigned. Some donors have indicated that they will stop donating. The book sale will be no more.
It makes no sense that the core of the library, which has functioned so well throughout these long years of controversy, has been destroyed so that one previous director with a small following may take their place. Many of us feel heartbroken that the board refused to hire someone new. Please help us to save our library and insure that it remains warm, welcoming and accessible for all.
Our Request:
We, the undersigned, ask that Cori Rail, Lauren Herbert, and Sue Laporte reconsider their decision, listen to the concerns of the library community, and hire someone new who is compatible with library staff and volunteers. If they are unwilling to make this change, we ask that one or more of them step down from the board to allow for a more balanced and fair representation of the public’s interests in the future of our library.
We ask the Pawlet Select Board to not approve the biased decision to rehire the former director and insist instead that a new, more unifying candidate be chosen.
Regardless of where you stand on the controversy surrounding the previous director, we invite you to stand with us in support of the preservation of the Pawlet Public Library. By signing this petition and voicing your concerns to the board, perhaps we may still be able to ensure that the Pawlet Public Library remains a welcoming and thriving resource for the entire community. Thank you for your support in helping us protect the well-being and future of our beloved library.
Links:
Trustee Training Manual
The Trustee Board Training Manual outlines the primary responsibility of library trustees:
Well-Being of the Library
• Understand the community and its needs
• Understand the law & avoid Conflict of Interest
• Exercise discretion and respect confidentiality outside board meetings
• Put personal agendas aside when making decisions
• Plan for the future: Resilience
Ethics Statement for Library Trustees
Trustee Manual - 6th Edition, 2023
Many letters have been sent to the board. The following are the ones that are available to the public:
Molly Beverage was not allowed to speak at the December 3, 2024 board meeting. However, her letter was included as an addenda to the the board minutes. It lists many issues that speak to why the previous director may have been fired. Link to December 3 minutes
There are statements from a trustee and members of the public included in the minutes from the recent September 16th board meeting when the decision was made to rehire the previous director. Link to September 16 minutes
And also statements from the public were read at the September 9th meeting and included in those minutes. Link to September 9 minutes