To the Editor:

My name is Michelle Waldenmaier and I am indeed a public librarian. No, I am not a librarian currently employed at Guilderland Public Library. I am also not currently paying taxes to support the Guilderland Public Library (though in the recent past I did so for nearly 16 years altogether).

However, I am a concerned citizen of the Capital District that views the woefully uninformed and non-supportive actions of the current board of trustees for Guilderland Public Library staff as not just appalling, but a public health and safety matter that can and perhaps will endanger not just their community but my adjacent community and all those in the area.

Because of this, I felt the need to send this letter. Thank you in advance for reading it.

The board’s lack of knowledge is despicable in regards to what their true charge is not only as a board of trustees but also as an organization. Therefore, I submit to all that read this letter the following:

— 1. The staff of Guilderland Public Library is currently meeting and has always met the tenets of the organizational mission statement: “The mission of the Guilderland Public Library is to provide quality library materials and services to our community for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment”; and

— 2. While some current members of the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees are failing part of their charged responsibilities, they are, in fact, now undermining the value of the library and its services. 

Here is an excerpt from “Responsibilities and Opportunities of Board Members”: “We also expect that community involvement will result in Board Members making family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues aware of the value of their library and its services, and becoming strong advocates. Board Members are some of our biggest promoters.”

So my rhetorical question for all is this: Can those of us not directly living in Guilderland let this situation go by without remark or notice when the current library board values opening the library at all cost (apparently that being disregard for the health and safety of staff and all the communities in the area)?

The current board’s actions (cavalierly discussing the worth of the staff and possible furloughs) are putting indirect and direct pressure on library staff to open the library in an unsafe public-health climate worsened by construction safety concerns.

It truly appears that some members of the board are completely ignorant to what the library really provides the community, or in fact would not be able to provide were there furloughs.

I’m wishing the best for all.

Michelle Waldenmaier

Delanson