Below is the letter that I wrote to the Pawlet Select Board. If you live in Pawlet, now would be a good time to contact your select board members or attend the meeting on October 14th and speak out about what has been happening at the library. Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to do this.

The minutes from the October 7th meeting have been posted. Here is the audio.

Since it has been taking so long for a contract to be signed, I think that they are in a vulnerable place. Lots of small actions may make a difference at this time. Unfortunately change.org does not provide me with anyone's email. However, you may contact me and give me your email via the jotform platform. Thanks.

Dear Mike Beecher, Rich Hulett, Bob Jones, Tom Collard, Jessica Van Oort,

https://chng.it/zK4qgqhBcm
https://form.jotform.com/252645696181163

You are likely to have heard that I have been circulating a petition online at the above two links as well as paper copies. There are 75 signatures so far and more keep trickling in.

Many in the library community do not think that it would be good for the library or Pawlet community to rehire Lyndsi Barnes. Since this decision was made, every paid employee of the library has resigned. Almost all long-time volunteers will no longer be involved with the library. Some significant donors have ceased donating. Many patrons spoke out at library meetings and some wrote letters asking the library board of trustees to hire someone new who would unite instead of further divide us. Cori Rail, Lauren Herbert, and Sue LaPorte have not stated their reasons for disregarding significant input from the library community and Pawlet residents. There are many in Pawlet who would like the library to have a fresh start with a new director, but they do not feel comfortable signing a petition and taking sides against their neighbors.

I live in Danby but would be willing to come to a Pawlet Select Board meeting to present the petition if that feels appropriate. There may also be some Pawlet residents who signed the petition and would be willing to present it. I have attached a copy of the petition and the signatures that we have thus far.

Thank you in advance for looking into this matter further and assessing if this rehire is truly in the best interest of the Pawlet community.

Sincerely,

Arena Heidi