Residents protest

librarian cutbacks

ST. JOHNSBURY — Library supporters here are rallying around the town athenaeum staff, who were dismissed as part of a restructuring.

About 200 people surrounded the athenaeum Saturday, calling on library trustees to rethink their decision last month to reduce the staff from 14 full- and part-time employees to five-full time employees.

The librarians were dismissed and told they could re-apply.

Kat Redniss, a librarian in Essex Junction, is part of a group called Rural Librarians Unite. She said the public should’ve been allowed weigh in.

The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is a private, not-for-profit public library and art gallery. Bill Marshall, chairman of the St. Johnsbury Board of Trustees, said staff cuts were necessary to ensure “vital and essential” library services.