Trouble in the stacks: Pawlet divided over rehiring of library director and resignation of staff

Libraries are normally an oasis of calm but the Pawlet Public Library lately has been the center of a yearslong drama.The community rift is centered around a former library director Lyndsi Barnes’ tenure,  which ended in 2023 after the Library Board of Trustees decisively voted to dismiss her. Two years later, the Pawlet Library Board of Trustees voted three to two on Sept. 16 to offer Barnes back her job, the Manchester Journal first reported.At issue is whether Barnes was wrongfull