Leadership

TRUSTEE ELECTION IS MAY 21, 2024

There are three library trustee seats up for election in May. If you are an Albany resident and a library advocate, consider running for a seat on the board. Download the trustee candidate nomination packet for full instructions on how to get your name on the election ballot. Nominating petitions are due Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to the City School District of Albany.

View the trustee candidate nominating packet

 

APL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The library’s nine-member elected Board of Trustees is charged with ensuring that the library fulfills its mission in a fiscally and operationally responsible way. The board is governed by a set of by-laws, which is regularly reviewed and amended as needed.

  • The full board meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6 pm at the Washington Ave. Branch, unless otherwise noted.
  • Committees meet as needed.
  • The public is invited and encouraged to attend board and committee meetings.
  • Comments may be shared with the board in person at the meetings.
  • Comments may also be shared via phone at (518) 290-6905 or email at publiccomment@albanypubliclibrary.org. You need to include your name and street address to have your comment read at the meeting and entered into the public record.
  • Board documents — including agendas and minutes — are available on BoardDocs.
  • The meetings are livestreamed, and catalogued for future viewing, on YouTube.

Board By-Laws

Meeting Dates, Agendas, and Minutes on BoardDocs

Meeting Livestreams and Videos on YouTube

Board Members

Library trustees are Albany residents who are elected to five-year terms. They receive no compensation and represent the interests of the community. Public elections for board seats are held the third Tuesday in May. 

Officers are elected by the trustees at the July meeting. Officer terms are one year.

Board Committees

  • Executive Committee: President Brigitte Pryor (chair), Vice President Jah-Raii Gause, Vice President for Finance Sara Dallas, Secretary Paige Barnum
  • Audit & Finance Committee: Sara Dallas (chair), Paige Barnum, Kirsten Broschinsky
  • Policy & Governance Committee: Jah-Raii Gause (chair), Brigitte Pryor, Andrea West
  • Personnel Committee: Andrea West (chair), Sarah Macinski, Lynette Robinson
  • Facilities Committee: Paige Barnum (chair), Sarah Macinski, Kirsten Broschinsky
  • Nominating Committee: Sarah Macinski (chair), Arlene Way, Lynette Robinson
  • Representative on Friends & Foundation of Albany Public Library Board: Brigitte Pryor
  • Representative on Upper Hudson Library System Board: Arlene Way

(Committees last updated 3/5/24)

NOTE: Agendas and minutes for meetings prior to May 2019 can be found below. Those documents for meetings after that date are found on BoardDocs.

Board Meetings and Minutes

2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014

January 8, 2019

Meeting Video

February 26, 2019

Regular Meeting + Budget Session

March 12, 2019

Meeting Video

April 9, 2019

Meeting Video

April 29, 2019

Special Meeting

Meeting Video

 

January 9, 2018 | 6:00 pm

Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch | 148 Henry Johnson Blvd.

February 13, 2018

Meeting Video

March 6, 2018 | 6:00 pm

Washington Ave. Branch | 161 Washington Ave. | 2nd Floor Community Room

SPECIAL MEETING: Budget Session

March 13, 2018

Meeting Video

April 10, 2018

Meeting Video

May 8, 2018

Meeting Video

June 12, 2018

Meeting Video

July 10, 2018

Meeting Video

August 14, 2018

Meeting Video

September 11, 2018

Meeting Video

October 9, 2018

Meeting Video

November 13, 2018

Meeting Video

December 11, 2018

Meeting Video

Dec. 21, 2017 | Special meeting review and approve end-of-year check register.

Meeting Video

 

Jan. 10, 2017

Meeting Video

Feb. 14, 2017

Meeting Video

March 15*, 2017 | *Date changed due to library closure during snowstorm

Meeting Video

April 4, 2017

Meeting Video

May 9, 2017

Meeting Video

June 13, 2017

Meeting Video

June 27, 2017 | Washington Ave. Branch

6:00 pm | 161 Washington Ave.

July 11, 2017

Meeting Video

Aug. 8, 2017

Meeting Video

Sept. 12, 2017 | 6 pm

Washington Ave. Branch | 161 Washington Ave.

Oct. 10, 2017

Meeting Video

Nov. 14, 2017

Meeting Video

Dec. 5, 2017

Meeting Video

6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch

January 12, 2016 -- 6 pm

Washington Ave. Branch

February 9, 2016

Meeting Video

March 8, 2016

Meeting Video

April 12, 2016

Meeting Video

May 10, 2016

Meeting Video

June 14, 2016

Meeting Video

July 12, 2016

Meeting Video

August 9, 2016

Meeting Video

September 13, 2016

Meeting Video

October 11, 2016

Meeting Video

November 8, 2016

Meeting Video

December 13, 2016

Meeting Video

January 13, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Bach Branch
455 New Scotland Avenue

February 10, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Pine Hills Branch
517 Western Avenue

March 10, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch
148 Henry Johnson Boulevard

April 14, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Delaware Branch
331 Delaware Avenue

May 12, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Howe Branch
105 Schuyler Street

June 9, 2015 - 5:30 p.m. 

North Albany Branch

616 North Pearl Street

July 14, 2015 - 5:30 p.m.

Washington Avenue Branch
161 Washington Avenue
(2nd floor community room)

August 11, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Bach Branch
455 New Scotland Avenue

September 8, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Pine Hills Branch
517 Western Avenue

October 13, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch
148 Henry Johnson Boulevard

November 10, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Delaware Branch
331 Delaware Avenue

December 8, 2015 - 6 p.m. 

Howe Branch
105 Schuyler Street

 

Read All Meeting Dates

Andrea Nicolay, Executive Director

Andrea Nicolay began serving as APL's executive director in August 2022. Before APL, she served as director of libraries in Arlington, MA for seven years. Originally from South Jersey, Andrea completed her undergraduate degree at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA where she earned a B.A. in English. She earned her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science at Queens College, City University of New York, and worked as a librarian and branch manager at the New York Public Library. For Andrea, the best part of being the executive director of APL is working with the extraordinary staff to further the library’s mission to “Educate, Entertain, and Empower Our Community.” Andrea sees the library as a nimble organization with the power to impact the well-being of a community, and is committed to providing innovative, patron-first library services to the people of Albany.

Melanie Metzger, Assistant Director

Melanie Metzger has served as APL’s assistant director since 2013. She oversees staff onboarding, training, and professional development. She is also a policy and customer service expert. Prior to joining APL, Melanie spent 11 years in Texas building her resume in youth services and management. She is a graduate of the Leadership Capital Region program. Melanie is an alumna of Syracuse University’s graduate program in library and information science.

Rebecca Lubin, Head of Community Engagement

Rebecca Lubin develops community relations initiatives and oversees our internship and volunteer programs as head of community engagement. Rebecca previously served APL as manager of three branches and the Delaware Branch librarian. She also has leadership experience at two smaller libraries in New York, and had a previous career as an urban planner. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University and a master’s in library and information science from Syracuse University.

Deanna DiCarlo, Head of Branch Services

Deanna DiCarlo supervises the library's branch managers and oversees all services, materials, staff, and patron experiences at APL's seven locations. Deanna previously served as the manager of adult and outreach services at the Upper Hudson Library System, and in several public service roles at APL. Deanna is a graduate of the New York Library Association Leadership & Management Academy and the Leadership Capital Region program. She has a master’s degree in English from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in information science from the University at Albany.

Amy McLaughlin, Head of Programs & Partnerships

Amy McLaughlin oversees all of our activities and events for patrons and relationships with community organizations as head of programs and partnerships. Her long-term connections with non-profit organizations, service providers, government entities, and other community groups allows APL to engage in meaningful partnerships that facilitate patron needs for educational and entertaining programming. She has served in many areas of the library during her 25+ years at APL, including readers services, community engagement, youth services, collection management, and circulation. Amy earned a master of library science degree from the University at Albany.

Board of Trustees

Board Committees