Columbia County: Janet Schnitzer

Ms. Schnitzer has been unanimously nominated by the Columbia County Library Association for a second five-year term (2024-2028). 

Ms. Schnitzer’s love of books and libraries began in a small New Jersey town library located in the basement of the Presbyterian church across the street from her house. She loved being exposed to other libraries as when in New Brunswick she had a card to their library and the Firestone Library at Princeton University was the first college library she had a chance to use. Ms. Schnitzer’s college job was in the Reference Room of the Rider University library and then after graduation she worked in the Reference Library of Rutgers University until marriage. One of the first things she did when she felt settled in Hudson was to go to the Hudson Library, then only five years old, where she met the office manager and after a conversation was asked to consider helping her on a voluntary basis. She did and it has been a love affair for 59 years.

Ms. Schnitzer served on the Hudson Area Association Library board for 24 years as secretary and then president. She was asked to fill a vacancy representing Columbia County on the Mid-Hudson Library System Board of Trustees upon retiring from her career in the Business Department at Hudson High School upon retirement.

When not reading she may be doing physical fitness activities, Pilates, knitting, or mah-jongg among other activities.

Putnam County: Peter Carey

Mr. Carey has been unanimously nominated by the Putnam County Library Association for his first full five-year term (2024-2028) after his appointment to fill a vacated term in 2022.  

Mr. Carey, a current member of the board of the Mid-Hudson Library System, has been a member of the Brewster Public Library Board of Trustees for over thirteen (13) years. Mr. Carey is currently serving his second term as Vice-President at the Brewster Public Library and is the immediate Past-President of that board. Mr. Carey was instrumental in a successful campaign to pass a referendum for a $2.96 million bond to renovate and expand the Brewster Public Library. He has also assisted in two successful municipal ballot initiatives (414 votes) to increase the library’s operating budget. Mr. Carey serves on the Southeast Republican Committee and is a 13-year member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Carey is active in the Brewster Rotary Club, the Brewster Chamber of Commerce, and serves as the Editor, reporter and photographer of five digital publications in the Putnam County area for HamletHub.com. He is currently employed as a Code Enforcement Officer in the building Department with the Town of Southeast, NY for almost 10 years after enjoying a 20+ year career as a Police Officer in Westchester County, NY. Peter has been a resident of Putnam County for more than 26 years with his spouse, Margaret and their 3 children, all of whom are avid readers. 

Ulster County: Stuart Auchincloss 

Mr. Auchincloss has been unanimously nominated by the Ulster County Library Association for a second five-year term (2024-2028). 

Stuart Auchincloss (he/him) served on the Woodstock Library Board for a decade, including serving in the capacity of Board President. Mr. Auchincloss has served on the board of the Mid-Hudson System for seven (7) years, completing an unexpired term and then being elected to a full term beginning in 2019. He notes he has enjoyed many trustee training events, mostly presented by MHLS itself.

“On the MHLS Board I have learned a lot about equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) from my participation on the EDI task force that MHLS convened in 2021. I have also learned how complex the State makes the process of applying for construction grant funds. For libraries with construction projects this MHLS guidance can be the difference between success and failure in tapping those funds. I enjoy talking to politicians about the benefits libraries provide their communities and what a bargain they are in the use of taxpayer money. In addition to regular attendance at Library Advocacy Day in Albany I have gone to Washington, DC twice for ALA Lobby Day and I have joined the leaders of the Ulster County Library Association in talking to the County legislature. I came to the world of libraries when my wife and I moved to Woodstock in 2004. Before that time I have had experience as a professional civil engineer, a lawyer and an environmental activist. We have two daughters, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”

One vacancy is to finish out a term in Greene County which would commence immediately after the election:

Greene County: Tom Silvious

Mr. Silvious is the immediate past president of the Heermance Memorial Library in Coxsackie. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Hudson Center for Health Equity and Quality, a non-profit technology company that focuses its client work and its advocacy mission on improving healthcare quality and access for all. In his professional career he has been a strategic advisor and executive leader in various Fortune 500 Information Technology integration firms. In a career spanning more than 40 years he has helped Federal, State and Local government agencies and community-based organizations improve their evidence-based policy decision making, interoperate and share more information with each other, and improve their organizational performance, in areas such as Higher Education, Healthcare, Transportation, Public Safety, Workforce development and Financial Services.  

Mr. Silvious has been unanimously nominated by the Greene County Library Association to complete a recently vacated term that will run through the end of 2026.