Mid-Hudson Library System Announces 2026 Board of Trustees

The Mid-Hudson Library System is proud to announce its Board of Trustees for 2026.

For 2026, Stuart Auchincloss, representing Ulster County (Woodstock) will lead the board as President. Executive committee members include Vice President, Barbara Swanson representing Greene County (Haines Falls); Treasurer, Kevin Finnegan representing Putnam County (Brewster); Secretary, Jill Leinung representing Columbia County (Valatie); and Member-at-Large, Carla Taylor of Putnam County (Carmel). With board trustees typically serving five-year terms, much of the board remains the same in 2026, with two new members joining:

• Dr. David Lavallee is the former board president of the Starr Library in Rhinebeck and a former trustee of the Croton Free Library. During his professional career he served as the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of the SUNY System Administration, providing services for all 64 colleges and universities in the SUNY System. Prior to that, as a college provost at Hunter College, The College of New York, and most recently, SUNY New Paltz, Dr. Lavallee oversaw their campus libraries. Dr. Lavallee notes that his interest in libraries began when, at age 10, he learned that his local library was open to all and he could explore books with the help of a welcoming, helpful librarian. In his professional life as a scientist and educator, he noted that he “haunted libraries” to find out what others had done in his field and feels that “thorough citations are a must.” Dr. Lavallee notes that he would like to “continue to support and foster our great Mid-Hudson system by serving on its Board.”

• Mary DeBellis has resided in Dutchess County for 9 years and has a librarian career spanning over 30 years. After receiving her MLS degree from Queens College, NY, she went on to work in various positions in New York Public, Westchester County, and Mid-Hudson Libraries. In her most recent tenure as Director of the LaGrange Association Library, she served as President of the MHLS Directors Association and the Dutchess County Library Association, and as a member of the System Services Advisory and OverDrive Ad Hoc Committees. Recently retired from her position as Director, she is honored to serve as a trustee on the dynamic MHLS Board to lend her knowledge for the continued growth and success of this ever-evolving system and its fabulous member libraries.

The remainder of 2025 Board Trustees includes:

• Columbia County
  • Janet Schnitzer
  • Jenny Post
• Dutchess County
  • Mark Williams
• Greene County
  • Charles Kutcher
  • Thomas Silvious
• Putnam County
  • Peter Carey
• Ulster County
  • Leslie Gerber
  • Kenneth Goldberg

Trustees of the Mid-Hudson Library System are elected by its sixty-six (66) member libraries at the Annual Membership Meeting held each fall.

About Us

Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) is a cooperative public library system chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and overseen by the New York State Education Department via the Division of Library Development (DLD). MHLS is dedicated to working together with sixty-six (66) member libraries in the Mid-Hudson region to strengthen local library services while saving local tax dollars. For more information, visit www.midhudson.org or follow the library system on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.