To the Editor:

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, we were all working diligently at our computers; customers were busy at their laptops or reading comfortably in our reading lounge by the magazines. At about 1:50 p.m., suddenly the lights flickered. Computers dimmed, went out, and then — quite literally — lights out!

We knew what to do: Let customers know that we were closing the building because it’s unsafe without lights and without the heating-ventilation-air-conditioning system working; our maintenance chief reported the outage to National Grid; and staff informed customers coming into the parking lot that the library was closed.

There was no question of posting a notice on our electronic sign: It was out, too, of course.

We learned from incoming people — among them, Guilderland town Supervisor Peter Barber — that it was not just us. The outage seemed to encompass Western Avenue from Route 155 west to maybe the Tractor Supply Store. It was a bit of a lark as we waited for the power to come back on.

The staff’s question then became the refrain from that old song: “Do we stay, or do we go?”

And then, at about 3:15 p.m., the answer presented itself: The lights came on, and we stayed.

Grateful to have our library fully powered again, a bit of mischief ensued. I posted on our electronic sign these words: “If this sign is on, we have power! A/C, too!  Come on in!”

People started coming back in.

Mark Curiale

Public Information Officer

Guilderland Public Library