Leadership

2025 Trustee Election

Two board seats (5-year terms) are up for election on May 20, 2025
Candidate Nomination Information Packet PDF — Petitions due April 30 by 5 pm to City School District
Presentation PDF: “Thinking of Running for Library Trustee?” Candidate Information Session

Note: The budget vote is also on May 20. Find more information on our budget page.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and Materials (on BoardDocs)
Agendas and minutes prior to May 2019 can be found at the bottom of this page.

Meeting Livestreams and Videos (on YouTube)

Board By-laws (pdf)

Board Members

Brigitte Pryor | President, 2024-2025 | Term: July 2020-June 2025 | pryorb@albanypubliclibrary.org
Jah-Raii Gause | Vice President, 2024-2025 | Term: July 2021-June 2026 | gausej@albanypubliclibrary.org
Paige Barnum | Vice President for Finance, 2024-2025 | Term: July 2022-June 2027 | barnump@albanypubliclibrary.org
Andrea West | Secretary, 2024-2025 | Term: July 2022-June 2027 | westa@albanypubliclibrary.org
Mary A. Rosch | Trustee | Term: June 2024-June 2025 | roschm@albanypubliclibrary.org
Sarah Macinski | Trustee | Term: May 2022-June 2026 | macinskis@albanypubliclibrary.org
Lynnette Robinson | Trustee | Term: July 2022-June 2027 | robinsonl@albanypubliclibrary.org
Paige Allen | Trustee | Term: July 2024-June 2029 | allenp@albanypubliclibrary.org
Jennifer Marlow | Trustee | Term: July 2024-June 2029 | marlowj@albanypubliclibrary.org

Board Committees

Executive Committee: President Brigitte Pryor (chair), Vice President Jah-Raii Gause, Vice President for Finance Paige Barnum, Secretary Andrea West
Audit & Finance Committee: Paige Barnum, (chair), Mary Rosch, Paige Allen
Policy & Governance Committee: Jah-Raii Gause (chair), Lynnette Robinson, Jennifer Marlow
Personnel Committee: Andrea West (chair), Jennifer Marlow, Paige Allen
Facilities Committee: Sarah Macinski (chair), Mary Rosch, Paige Allen
Nominating Committee: Sarah Macinski (chair), Lynnette Robinson, Jennifer Marlow
Representative on Friends & Foundation of Albany Public Library Board: Brigitte Pryor
Representative on Upper Hudson Library System Board: Sarah Macinski

Board Mission

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. Library trustees are Albany residents who are elected to five-year terms. They receive no compensation and represent the interests of the community.

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.
Officers are elected to one-year terms at the July meeting.
All board and committee meetings are open to the public.
Public comments may be shared with the board in person at the meetings, by phone at (518) 290-6905, or email 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 Meetings and Minutes

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

January 8, 2019

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

February 26, 2019

Regular Meeting + Budget Session

Agenda & Minutes

March 12, 2019

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

April 9, 2019

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

April 29, 2019

Special Meeting

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

January 9, 2018 | 6:00 pm

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

Agenda & Minutes

February 13, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

March 6, 2018 | 6:00 pm

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

SPECIAL MEETING: Budget Session

Agenda & Minutes

March 13, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

April 10, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

May 8, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

June 12, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

July 10, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

August 14, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

September 11, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

October 9, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

November 13, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

December 11, 2018

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

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

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Jan. 10, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Feb. 14, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

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

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

April 4, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

May 9, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

June 13, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

June 27, 2017 | Washington Ave. Branch

6:00 pm | 161 Washington Ave.

Agenda & Minutes

July 11, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Aug. 8, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Sept. 12, 2017 | 6 pm

Washington Ave. Branch | 161 Washington Ave.

Agenda & Minutes

Oct. 10, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Nov. 14, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

Dec. 5, 2017

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

6 pm at Washington Ave. Branch

Agenda & Minutes

January 12, 2016 -- 6 pm

Washington Ave. Branch

Agenda & Minutes

February 9, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

March 8, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

April 12, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

May 10, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

June 14, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

July 12, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

August 9, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

September 13, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

October 11, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

November 8, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

December 13, 2016

Meeting Video

Agenda & Minutes

January 13, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Bach Branch
455 New Scotland Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

February 10, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Pine Hills Branch
517 Western Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

March 10, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch
148 Henry Johnson Boulevard

Agenda & Minutes

April 14, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Delaware Branch
331 Delaware Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

May 12, 2015 - 5:30 pm

Howe Branch
105 Schuyler Street

Agenda & Minutes

June 9, 2015 - 5:30 p.m.

North Albany Branch

616 North Pearl Street

Agenda & Minutes

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

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

Agenda & Minutes

August 11, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Bach Branch
455 New Scotland Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

September 8, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Pine Hills Branch
517 Western Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

October 13, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch
148 Henry Johnson Boulevard

Agenda & Minutes

November 10, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Delaware Branch
331 Delaware Avenue

Agenda & Minutes

December 8, 2015 - 6 p.m.

Howe Branch
105 Schuyler Street

Agenda & Minutes

Minutes

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.