THETFORD — Thetford residents are demanding answers after the Latham Memorial Library Trustees announced that Peter Blodgett, the long-time director of the library, will be replaced in the fall.
“There is a library trustees meeting Wednesday at the library and I think there will be a turnout like there never has been at a trustees meeting,” said resident Steve Tofel, one of those demanding a further explanation on Blodgett’s pending departure. “It should be a very interesting meeting.”
In a June 24 posting on the town’s listserv, trustee chairwoman Marla Ianello said the board is developing a new “strategic plan” and to that end is “rethinking current operations and the relevancy of these for a 21st century library in a small, rural town.”
Ianello went on to say that as part of the process, the trustees will hire a new librarian in the fall.
“This change means that our current library director, Peter Blodgett, will no longer be a part of Latham Library,” she wrote.
The posting did not indicate whether Blodgett voluntarily resigned or was asked to resign. Ianello continued with a personal appreciation of Blodgett, 66, saying he has always been pleasant and helpful to her and made her feel welcome from the moment she began using the library.
Reached at the library on Monday afternoon, Blodgett said it would be inappropriate for him to speak at this time, though he may comment publicly after Wednesday’s meeting.
“It is a personnel matter and the board has to be silent so I should be as well,” said Blodgett, who was hired in 1986 and will complete his 33rd year this October.
Tofel said he has tried to find out more about why Blodgett is being replaced but has been unsuccessful.
“Nobody seems to really know and (the trustees) are calling it a personnel matter,” Tofel said. “There is nothing out there that is very helpful” in explaining the decision.
The most recent town report indicates that in 2018, “overall, per capita borrowing was the highest in 14 years.”
“There doesn’t seem to be any reason to be upset with the library,” Tofel said.
The trustees held a non-public meeting on June 5, but all that is stated on the draft minutes is the length of about 50 minutes.
An email to Ianello on Monday seeking further information was not returned by deadline.
A range of comments about Blodgett’s pending departure have dominated the Thetford Listserv, with one calling Blodgett “a local treasure” and others praising him for a pleasant attitude and helpfulness.
Joe Deffner, who also praised Blodgett and worked with him when Deffner formerly served as a trustee of the historical society, said a possible way forward could be discussion on the strategic plan that Ianello referred to.
“While letters of support are important, they don’t change a situation that is clearly upsetting to a lot of library patrons. At the same time, it would give the Latham Board an opportunity to explain their vision for the library. It seems like a possible way forward,” Deffner wrote.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
