Meet the Board & Staff

Executive Director
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, LEED AP, cSBA

Rebekkah has served the MHLS community for more than twenty-five years, earning recognition for her effective leadership and innovative efforts to strengthen local libraries and expand access for patrons regionally, nationally, and globally. In addition to overseeing MHLS operations and core member services—including consultations for directors and trustees and the development of continuing education programs—she is the co-founder and board president of the award-winning Sustainable Libraries Initiative, co-creator of The Library of Local Project, and author of three books on libraries, climate adaptation, and community resilience. She also authored the New York State Handbooks for new public library directors and for public library trustees. Under her leadership, MHLS became the first public library system in the world to complete the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program. Rebekkah is a Library Journal Mover & Shaker and a recipient of the New York Library Association’s Outstanding Service to New York Libraries Award.

Assistant Director & Technology Operations Manager
Laurie Shedrick, MLS

Laurie leads the Technology Operations Team and is responsible for the oversight and innovation of backbone services that power many of our member libraries’ core services such as the software that powers the front desk of each member library for check-in/check-out of library materials; the online catalog, mobile app, and digital collections (e.g., ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, and emagazines). Laurie works closely with the IT Operations Supervisor and Data Operations Supervisor to produce a well-rounded support team for our member libraries.

Library Sustainability Coordinator
Laura Crisci, MLS

Laura leads the Library Sustainability Team and is responsible for services, programs, and projects that strengthen our member libraries and broaden access for library patrons. She oversees New York State Aid programs such as the State Aid for Library Construction Program, Coordinated Outreach, and Correctional Facilities. Laura also works closely with the Executive Director to support member library directors and trustees on a variety of governance, funding, and management issues. Laura also is our point person on the Annual Report to New York State, communication among members, and a variety of special projects.

Operations Manager
Chris Herron

Chris oversees delivery operations, ensuring approximately 5,000 items a day smoothly travel through our service area to the library patrons who have requested them from other libraries. This service saves local taxpayers more than $4.5 million a year. Chris also heads up our facilities team, maintaining our office building and historic Auditorium on Market Street in Poughkeepsie.

IT Operations Supervisor
Gerry Formby

Gerry is responsible for leading a team that supports member libraries’ technology needs – from providing on-site tech support of software and hardware needs at member libraries to hosting more than half of our member library web sites and answering all manner of technology questions for our members.

Data Operations Supervisor
Nina Acosta, MLS

Nina heads up our cataloging team, ensuring all items – physical and digital – are easily findable through our interactive interfaces such as the online catalog, mobile app, and the Libby app. Nina also leads a groundbreaking project to modernize language used in our catalog to describe materials so they can be found in terms that reflect the lived experiences of our patrons.

Finance Manager & Personnel Officer
James Coyle

James is the chief finance and personnel officer, overseeing the receipt and expenditure of funds received from New York State, member libraries, grant makers, and more. James also ensures our staff have what they need to be effective in their roles. He works closely with the Executive Director and Board Treasurer to ensure MHLS is following best practices in the oversight of the funds entrusted to the organization.