Dear Residents of Essex,
When I first came to Essex as a full time resident, I was very happy to be asked to join the library board. My family has a long connection with libraries. My grandmother, Kathleen founded a library in a poor neighborhood in Massachusetts. My mother created her own first job as a librarian by convincing Albany’s Dudley Observatory they needed a librarian to catalog all the very old, and important books in their collection. That collection is now at Union College in Schenectady. She had a long career in library science, culminating with her position as the New York State Medical Librarian.
My sisters have either been on library boards, or worked in libraries; I have a nephew who is a librarian and another who works in a library.
Before retiring, I was a librarian in the Albany area for 30 years. I worked in all areas of a public library -with children, teens and adults.
At the Belden Noble Library, I have had the great pleasure of working with a wonderful team of volunteers who make up the library board. We are a hard working group who take very seriously the responsibility of keeping the library open and keeping it current.
In the last 10 years we have doubled the size of the library, creating a new children’s area and reading lounge and, in the process, taking care of needed building maintenance. We have achieved 501c3 status, giving us more options for soliciting grants and donations. We have hosted many new and interesting programs, and have created a Local Author’s area, highlighting all of the amazing talent right here in Essex.
In 2022, welcomed our new Director, Julie Wever. She brings many, many years of library experience to Belden Noble, and we know she will continue to expand and improve the collection and ably assist our patrons.
I served as board treasure for two years before becoming President and I know that we absolutely could not keep the library operating without the generous contributions from our patrons. Every donation, regardless of amount, is so appreciated and your generosity has been amazing!
I think I speak for the whole library board when I say we want to hear from you. We want to know what materials you would like to see in the library, what programs you would like us to host, and what services we can help provide. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with requests, or suggestions.
I look forward to the year ahead as we begin to think about opening with renewed energy, post Covid. Thank you for being part of our library community.

Sincerely,
Maureen DeLaughter, Board President