By Katy Savage
Shortly after the Pawlet library director was given a raise and recognized by the Vermont Library Association, she was fired, leading to an outcry from residents at a library board of trustees meeting on Dec. 7.
Residents asked the board for transparency.
Resident Martin Kravitt predicted the town would face a legal battle.
“You went ahead and fired her, I believe without cause.”
The library board of trustees unanimously voted to dismiss Library Director Lyndsi Barnes with a vote of “no confidence” following an executive session on Nov. 7.
The trustees listened to concerns from residents at a meeting on Dec. 7, but said they would not be speaking on the matter.
“On advice of counsel, we will not be answering questions or giving an explanation,” library president Harley Cudney said.
Barnes, who also attended the meeting, explained she was informed via email Nov. 7 that she had been dismissed “without consideration, explanation or due process.”
“I still have not heard from the board providing me any reason for my dismissal,” she said, while reading from a prepared note. “The manner in which the library board has managed this dismissal is unacceptable.”
Barnes, who formerly worked at the New York Public Library, moved to Pawlet with her family and was selected among seven candidates as the library director two years ago.
The termination happened just after the board voted to give a raise to the director.
On Nov. 3, the Vermont LIbrary Association named Barnes a “one of the remarkable librarians…who have made significant impact within their local communities.”
“We were particularly impressed with your creativity and committed focus of your seed library, tech time sessions, after school nature club and listing of community connections on your website.”
The dismissal baffled residents.
The Select Board received 20 written letters from community members, saying Barnes spearheaded projects, including a seed library, and received numerous grants.
Sue LaPorte said the library has become more welcoming under Barnes’ leadership.
“The library board has overstepped their authority and treated our faith in them with disdain,” LaPorte wrote in a letter.
Residents asked the board for transparency.
“No matter the reasoning behind the firing, due process is still required,” Brooke Hughes-Muse wrote in a letter.
While most of the letters were supportive of Barnes, a few residents raised concern about Barnes’ direction.
Lucy Norman said Barnes “appeared to lack respect for library employees and volunteers, for community traditions, and, since she was so often not present at the library, for the regularity our community expects.”
Other residents said Barnes would not let homeschoolers use the library basement.
Sara Rodich said the library appeared closed when it should have been open and she overheard Barnes arguing with staff.
“A library is the heart of a community and Pawlet Library was feeling incredibly cold this last year,” Rodich said.
Kat Zemmel said Barnes prevented her from using the library for homeschool and a handwork circle group without paying a fee.
“It is astounding how a librarian and especially a director so invested in community outreach — could be so non-inclusive and downright unwelcoming to our little homeschool and handwork circle community,” wrote Zemmel.
Assistant Librarian Adelle Santwir is leading the library in the meantime. The trustees unanimously voted Dec. 7 to raise Santwir’s salary to $22.05 per hour for the interim time.
The trustees also discussed holding a warned meeting, with public comment, to include an executive session with counsel as soon as it could be arranged.
