Homeschoolers, library patrons tell Schenectady County Legislature access to materials fell sharply after library left regional system

Schenectady County legislators heard public comment on March 3 from homeschoolers and a longtime library patron who said the county public library’s exit from a regional automation system has sharply reduced access to books, kits and other resources.

At the March 3 meeting, Irma Martinez Guill, who said she runs a local nonprofit for homeschoolers, told legislators her group relied on library lending and program kits but now sees only “about 10 to 15%” of the resources it once used. She said the nonprofit is self-funded and that the loss has made it harder for families to find materials and community programs.

The matter drew support from a young homeschooler, Kiara Coyle, who told legislators she is 15 and said the library had been a venue for community-building: “I really hope that you guys can figure out a way for me to grow and for me to have those resources back because without those resources, I can't do much,” she said.

Nancy Gifford of Scotia described the effect in starker terms. “The Schenectady County library patron suddenly went from easy access to nearly 2,000,000 books in the 8 counties to just barely 15% of those left in the isolated Schenectady County collection,” she said, adding that interlibrary loan is slower and that smaller public libraries do not have the budgets to replace the services once available through a regional system.

Why it matters: callers said the change affects homeschooling families’ day-to-day teaching resources and could make the county less attractive to families considering relocation. Gifford noted that neighboring counties in regional systems offer much larger collections and additional lending services (tools, technology, games) that Schenectady patrons now lack.

Legislators did not take action on the floor during public comment. Several speakers urged the Legislature and library leadership to seek ways to restore broader access, speed interlibrary loans, or otherwise mitigate the transition’s effects.

Background and context: Speakers said the county library withdrew from the regional joint automation system in the past year with little public input; they called the move “outlandish murmurings” that became reality with little staff or public discussion. Residents described longer wait times from interlibrary loan and the loss of shared cataloging and lending relationships that regional systems provide. Public comments noted that the county library still advertises WorldCat but said that subscription catalogs and postal costs limit its usefulness for small public libraries.

Legislative context: The comments came at the beginning of the March 3 meeting’s public-comment period. No county official provided a response on the floor during the session; staff or library administrators were not named in the public-comment portion recorded.

What’s next: Speakers requested follow-up from county leadership. The Legislature’s formal agenda that evening proceeded to committee reports and roll-call votes on routine resolutions and budget amendments.

Ending: The public-comment speakers asked the Legislature to consider the impacts on homeschooling and family access to educational materials; the record shows no floor action at the March 3 session to change library policy.