New trustee appointed
At the Monday, Sept. 11, meeting, the Bethlehem Public Library Board of Trustees appointed Delmar resident Laura DiBetta to the board. She fills a seat left vacant at the end of June when trustee Harmeet Narang stepped down after 10 years of service. DiBetta will serve until the end of the 2023-24 fiscal year but must run for election in 2024 to retain the seat.
Board President Mark Kissinger administered the oath of office at the start of the meeting. He said the search for a new trustee was an “extensive process with a lot of interest from the public,” adding that the board is confident DiBetta will make a great trustee
DiBetta, who serves as director of outdoor recreation at the state Department of Environmental Conservation, is also the “proud steward” of the Little Free Diverse Library Delmar, which promotes easy access to books with diverse perspectives. She said libraries are essential community infrastructure.
“At their core, libraries serve the community best by inspiring and fostering lifelong learning,” she said, “but they are also more and more looking at how they can meet community needs that are not being met in other places.”
As someone who has grown up believing in the public library is a refuge and a place for discovery, DiBetta said that it is her goal that the library remain a welcoming and supportive place for all members of the community.
“Libraries today are facing unprecedented challenges to books and other offerings and must remain unwavering in their commitment to uncensored access to books,” she said.
Bethlehem Public Library takes very seriously its responsibility to serve the community by providing access to resources and programming that enhance the quality of life for residents. Library trustees make this possible through their dedication and vision, and they fill a very important public service role that affects every tax-paying resident, whether that person has stepped foot in the library or not.
Board meetings are generally held the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. and are open to the public. Meetings are also broadcast live and archived on the library’s YouTube channel.
Click here to learn more about the Board of Trustees.
Share the music
Have you been hanging on to a musical instrument from your or your child’s past that is no longer being used?
Vanguard, a group of volunteer supporters of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, is seeking donations of instruments for low-income Capital District children whose families aren’t able to cover the rental or purchase fees. They will be on the library Green Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. for a special collection event.
Donated instruments should be gently used and in good condition.
Want to be in the know?
For the most up-to-date library information delivered to your inbox, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, which also includes information about library tools and resources you may have not heard about. We promise to keep it short and sweet, and we won’t overload your inbox! Sign up here: mailchi.mp/bethpl.org/
This story appeared on page 14 of the September 20, 2023 print edition of the Spotlight
