Staff and Committees

Library Staff

Director: Laurie Wheeler

Laurie Wheeler has been Director of the Arms Library since March of 2008 and has been active in the library’s development over the past ten years. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Critical Social Thought. She is passionate about her community, the library’s role in it, and the potential for growth at the Arms Library! And she would be flying a T.A.R.D.I.S. if she could be.

Library Senior Assistant: Sharin Alpert

Sharin Alpert joined the library staff in November 2017. A long-time resident of Shelburne Falls and a lifetime resident of western Massachusetts, she is a passionate reader who brings her love of our community and her experience in non-profit administration to the position.

Sunday Desk Staff: Carrie Healy

Sunday Desk Staff: Andrew Achenbach

Page Position: currently unfilled

Board of Library Trustees

The Arms Library Trustees is a group of interested volunteers from Shelburne and Buckland who have fiscal and legal responsibility for the Arms Library Association, Inc. and the public library for the villiage of Shelburne Falls. Members are chosen to serve on the Board by the current Trustees. Members meet monthly at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month to review budgets, discuss and form policies and goals, assist with fundraising events and consider staffing needs, program plans and other issues with the Librarian in Charge of the Arms Library.

Current members are Dan Alden, Sheryl Gilmore, John Cornman, Arthur Samuelson, Peggy Warwick, Emily Willis.

Pratt Memorial Library Building Committee

The Pratt Memorial Building Committee is a group composed of the Chair of the Shelburne Selectboard and four Trustees of the Arms Library Association. This group is responsible for the maintenance of the building at the corner of Bridge and Main Streets in Shelburne Falls, which houses the Arms Library. Members meet once a month on the first Wednesday or as needed and are joined by the Librarian and the Fund Developer. Agendas are posted at Town Hall. Work is typically reviewing budgets and accounts for the endowment and for the capital campaign, discussing fundraising events and maintenance plans, problems and other issues connected to the physical plant of the building.

Current members are Dan Alden, Sheryl GIlmore, John Cornman, Arthur Samuelson, and Andrew Baker Shelburne Selectboard.

For More Information or To Join Us

People interested in joining the Trustees or assisting with either committee, or who have any questions or concerns about the committees, should send a letter addressed to Chair, Arms Library Trustees or Chair, Pratt Building Committee, c/o Arms Library. People may also call the Arms Library if interested in working with either the Pratt Committee or the Board of Trustees.

Updated December 2023