I am writing about the New City Library’s Board of Trustees meeting that was cancelled January 17 due to a lack of a quorum. I attended as a newly retired employee of the library. This particular meeting was important, as it was the Annual Meeting whereby the previous year’s accomplishments are reviewed; the director submits an annual report and the newly elected trustees are inducted. Instead, seven of the nine installed trustees were not able to attend, three-quarters of the group! The two remaining trustees were there in hopes that some of the absent members would be responsible and attend.
Instead there was an informal discussion of 16 audience members, most of whom were supporters of the library Watch group, the two newly elected trustees and the two trustees.
Had the original meeting occurred I planned to make the following statement:
Having worked in three libraries in my 27+ years as a professional librarian, I have observed the operations of many boards of trustees. Never have I seen a group like the one that currently presides at the New City Library. If this group of elected persons continue their destructive path of operation, there will be a complete breakdown of the library internal organization. The board member(s) who have taken it upon themselves to misuse the office must be identified and removed from this position of public trust.
Sally Pellegrini
Retired Local History/Community Relations Dept Head
New City Library
