Posted 5/2/24
Happy May, everyone!
When we last updated you back in March, we talked about the open library board positions and how to apply. The April 22nd deadline to become a candidate has passed, and now the election on May 21st is approaching quickly! The vote will be held at the Stuart M Townsend Elementary School from noon to 8pm, in the SMTES LGI room.
There are four candidates up for vote, and four positions to be filled. But remember: not all four positions are the same! As we covered in March, two board positions are for 3-year terms and two are for one-year terms. Whoever gets the most votes will get the longer terms, and the least votes will get the short terms. Your vote is very important! Therefore, we would like to take some time to briefly inform you about each of the candidates.
Ted Mirczak – Our current Library Board President, running to keep helping us with a longer term.
“The simple answer to “why run for a longer term ?” is that there is more work to be done to put the library back on track. Hiring a Manager and reopening was the short-term commitment I made. Now that I have had an opportunity to dig deeper into the operation, I have become aware of a number of areas where we can do a better job for our library users and for the resident’s of our community. We need to restore programming, engage the community in a plan for the library’s future, and make sure our library is a welcoming place for everyone in our community.
As for my time on the Board so far : It was heartening to see how much our community appreciated us reopening, and how much the library means to them. Many folks have thanked me and the Board for moving forward as quickly as we did. I am amazed and humbled as to how much there is to learn about library functions, and how much time and effort is required in spearheading the Library Board.”
-Ted Mirczak
Janice Waterhouse – A newcomer to the Library Board, and a very active supporter of the library.
“My name is Janice Waterhouse. I decided to run for a trustee position because I believe so strongly in free and public libraries that serve all people. When last year’s library board’s decisions became divisive, I was motivated to act: I began regularly attending public meetings, volunteered for the Long Range Planning Committee, and now have made the decision to run for the board. While I appreciate the calm and efficient manner of current meetings with the full board, including the recently appointed trustees, the appointments will expire with the election, so I hope to be a part of this upward trajectory.
I retired from teaching in the Hadley-Luzerne School District three years ago. After 33 years of interactions with so many of the students and families of our district, I have a unique perspective of the varied needs of the communities within the district. I taught high school English, so the love of books and reading is a core value of mine, displaying my lifelong commitment to the heart of every library’s mission.
I recognize there will be a learning curve if elected, but the strengths that I can bring to the position are the skills of organization, collaboration, research, creativity, and communication. My intentions are to work toward a library that is vibrant and efficiently run, to serve alongside the other elected members of the board with grace and dignity, and to protect the openness of the library for every person in the district it serves. For all of these reasons, I feel compelled to throw my hat into the ring and would be honored to serve our community.”
-Janice Waterhouse
Colin Hagadorn – A newcomer to the Library Board and active participant at Library Board meetings.
“I might be a little blatant here, but I wish the taxpayers of these four towns knew the shocking facts about how the funds have been spent.
I believe strongly that this library should be set up for the needs of the people that live in these small towns and pay taxes to fund the library which is $190,000 per year.
My #1 goal is to strengthen the relationship of our local community and this library. Also a more diverse community library with Simple Human Decency.
People should be respecting and supporting the library staff and board in order to make this work.
I live here and care about our community. Come to a meeting and see what it is all about.
I would be grateful for your support.”
-Colin Hagadorn
Margaret Hartley – Current Board Secretary, running for a longer term to help see the Library back on its feet.
“
“My name is Margaret Hartley, and I’ve lived in Hadley for more than 30 years. My husband and I raised two kids who attended Hadley-Luzerne schools and regularly used our library. I am director of communications at the University at Albany and before that spent 25 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist. I’ve been an avid library user since childhood.
I initially decided to apply to the Board of Regents for one of the vacant seats on the library board because I was distressed and horrified that our library was closed. It’s such an important hub in our community. Beyond the collection of books and periodicals on hand, you can use the library to access any book in the SALS system, come in to meet friends, use the computers and copiers, set up your own laptop and use the library’s WiFi, bring your kids to the children’s room to read or play. I felt like I needed to be part of the solution – to reopen our library and make sure it is a welcoming place for everyone in our community.
I was appointed to the board in December. My first goal was to work to get the library reopened. We did that – hiring a library manager in February and reopening the library on March 1. But I saw there was so much more work for the board. We had to restart the Strategic Planning Committee to establish how the library can best partner with and serve our community in the years to come. We need to plan a budget for next year. We need to make sure our finances are in order and being overseen responsibly for the future, that our building and grounds are being maintained and improved. We needed to rebuild trust in the community, and return civility and open dialog to board meetings.
I decided to run to remain on the board because there is so much to do, and I don’t feel I can just drop out now.”
-Margaret Hartley
Who will get which term will be determined by you, the voters of the Hadley-Luzerne Central School District! We are excited to see how this election will shake out. We hope lots of you turn out to vote at the school on May 21st!
