Trustees
There are six trustees, each elected for a 3-year term. In general, the Board of Trustees determines the mission of the library, sets the policies that govern the library, hires, and evaluates the library director, exercises oversight of library operations and long-range goals.
Trustees each serve on Board Committees focusing on areas of interest such as Curatorial, Building and Grounds, and Technology. The Trustees meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Eloranta Room at Forbush Memorial Library. Trustee meetings are open to the public and the agenda is posted in advance at Town Hall.
Margherita Altobelli, Vice-Chair
Term: (3) 2025-2028
Committees on BOT: Curatorial, Friends liaison, Welcome to Westminster
Profession: Executive assistant, currently at Saint Vincent Hospital
Book you have most recently read: She is an avid reader and her most recent reads were Chain Reaction by James Byrne and Bonded in Death by JD Robb
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: She’s looking forward to reading the next mysteries by Andrea Penrose and JD Robb and Remember When by Mary Balogh.
Fun Fact: Margherita hails from a long line of book lovers and Forbush Library advocates with her mother serving as former Children’s Librarian and Library Director and her brother serving as a trustee.
Kim Caisse, Recording Secretary
Term: (1) 2023-2026
Committees on BOT: Advocacy and Outreach, Curatorial, Policy
Profession: Workforce Development professional
What made you want to serve as a trustee? I love libraries and I like being involved in my community. I have always valued providing information so people can make informed decisions and enrich their lives.
Why is the library important to Westminster? The library offers Westminster residents of all ages an affordable place to go—either in person or online—for all sorts of leisurely activities and resources. It happens to be the oldest functioning municipal building in town with an inviting shady front lawn. And it preserves much of the town's historic art and artifacts, some of which are on display throughout the building.
Book you have most recently read: Chesapeake by James Michener
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride, Sunrise on the Reaping by Susan Collins, and A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Anything else you would like to share: I like to review the books I read on Fable and StoryGraph.
Tiffany Davis, Corresponding Secretary
Term: (2) 2024-2027
Committees on BOT: Building and Grounds, Friends liaison, Policy, Technology, Welcome to Westminster
Profession: Educator
What made you want to serve as a trustee? Libraries have been a lodestone for me throughout my life, providing everything from a refuge when I was a shy and awkward preteen to a place for finding a community of new moms when I first moved to Westminster. I want to make sure that the public library is there to welcome and serve future generations.
Why is the library important to Westminster? Public libraries provide a window to the world for everyone, regardless of who they are, where they live, and how much money they have. Libraries also offer two of the most basic tools that every citizen needs: 1) knowledge (which, of course is power!); 2) a place to connect with others.
Book you have most recently read: Run by Ann Patchett
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger, Dream State by Eric Puchner, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
Michelle Miller
Term: (2) 2025-2028
Committees on BOT: Advocacy and Outreach, Building and Grounds, Friends liaison
Profession: Nonprofit Program Operations
What made you want to serve as a trustee? I have always had a passion for libraries, and the learning they enable. Libraries are the cornerstones of communities. They are one of the few places that people can visit throughout the year with no expectation of buying anything, making them highly accessible and welcoming. I am honored to be a part of such a strong community institution as the Forbush Memorial Library.
Why is the library important to Westminster? Westminster is a small town with a big heart. The library is within walking distance of the food pantry, a pharmacy, and a neighborhood grocery store. It is present at all major community activities, and hosts free events for children to learn Spanish, for mothers to connect with other mothers, among many others. At the height of the pandemic, the library did not stop serving the community; it brought books to those who needed them, providing not only the literature, but a safe human connection in a very isolating time. Forbush Memorial Library demonstrates the concept of the library as the cornerstone of community.
Book you have most recently read: You Grow Gurl! by Christopher Griffin and Matrescence by Lucy Jones
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: Unbound by Tarana Burke, Collaborating with the Enemy by Adam Kahane, Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roper
Anything else you would like to share: Libraries are about so much more than the books they lend. Let's all work together to keep Forbush strong!
Kimberly Samson, Chair
Term: (5) 2023-2026
Committees on BOT: Advocacy and Outreach, Budget, Building and Grounds, Friends liaison, Policy, Technology, Welcome to Westminster
Profession: Volunteer (trained educator, administrator)
What made you want to serve as a trustee? Reading and books have always held a special place in my life. I saw becoming a trustee as an opportunity to serve as a link between the library and the community, advocating for the library and its important place in Westminster for everyone.
Why is the library important to Westminster? Forbush Library is a place where patrons, who may never interact elsewhere, come together. That vital community connection is important to our town.
Book you have most recently read: Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work by Dave Isay and The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: On Freedom by Timothy Snyder, The Names by Florence Knapp, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight, Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
Anything else you would like to share: I am really proud of the staff at Forbush and also of the forward momentum that the library has as it always strives to be better and do better. Our ability to service so many patrons during the horrible stress of the pandemic was fantastic. And…we gained many new library users, keeping the library relevant at a time when things are ever changing. I’m a quilter, love flowers, have a collection of 389 snowmen, and I’m a Murder She Wrote fan.
Neepa Shah
Term: (1) 2024-2027
Committees on BOT: Budget, Technology, Welcome to Westminster
Profession: Corporate Finance
What made you want to serve as a trustee? Being a trustee coincides with my desire to become involved with the library, a place I've always loved. The opportunity came at a great moment as well, some of my time has been recently freed up and I was looking for something meaningful to fill it with.
Why is the library important to Westminster? The library serves as a community gathering point, not merely a place to borrow items. It is one of the few places that encourages people to take time away from our busy lives and enjoy the moment.
Book you have most recently read: The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
3-5 books on your “To Read” List: Who is Government? by Michael Lewis, The Lucky Ones by Zara Chaudhary, Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow, The Golden Road : How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple, Why Civil Resistance Works: the Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict by Erica Chenoweth
Anything else you would like to share: I have 2 adorable dogs, Emmy, and Hershey. In addition to reading, I enjoy hiking (with the dogs) and biking.