Meet Our Staff
Beckley Gaudette, Library Director
Beckley’s family has been seasonal residents of Newfane Hill for three generations. She made Newfane her permanent home in May, 2021. Beckley first joined the Moore Free Library staff in May, 2021. She served as the Children and Family Librarian and Interim Director. She is currently both the Librarian and the Director of the Community Memory Project. Beckley holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching and an Ed.M. in Administration, Planning and Social Policy. She has worked in education and program development in nonprofits for 30+ years.
Meet Our Library Board (2022-2023)
Bobbe Ragouzeos, President
Bobbe is a retired clinical psychologist, enjoys lap swimming, reading, writing, gardening, cooking, travel and being with friends. She and her husband, artist Leonard Ragouzeos have been together for over 50 years. Her best role is being the adoring grandmother to her 4 wonderful grandchildren.
“I have a great deal of respect for the history of the Moore FreeLibrary and Crowell Gallery and it’s very important place in our community. I feel honored to be part of the board”.
Chris Webb, Vice President
Chris moved to Brookline in 2013 and works in the innovation group at a Vermont-based vitamin and herbal supplement company. He served two terms on the Brookline Select Board, volunteers for NewBrook Good Sports, and is on the board of Protect Our Election, a national organization that defends representative democracy in the United States. Married to Sara, who is on several NewBrook School committees and is a member of the WRED school board, they have two kids who grew up going to Moore Free Library. In his free time, Chris enjoys running, trivia, reading non-fiction, binge-watching classic television comedies, roughhousing with the kids, going to the ocean, and enjoying the beauty of all Vermont has to offer. Chris is a strong supporter of the Gushue rink in Canadian curling and defender of the Oxford comma.
Samantha Kilmurray, Secretary
Samantha Kilmurray is a resident of Williamsville and has lived in the greater Newfane area for over 15 years. She lives on a small farm with her partner and two children where they grow vegetables and fruit. She loves to be creative with her children, go on long walks, swim in the Rock River, garden, volunteer, coach, and watch her children play sports.
“I am thrilled to be on the library board and be part of something that is so near and dear to my family’s heart and history”
Marie Tattersall, Treasurer
Marie is a retired private accountant and tax preparer, enjoyed a career working on Wall Street, in the ski industry and with a food importer and distributor. After growing up in New York City, Marie has resided in Windham County since 1970. Marie now volunteers as a free income tax preparer with the IRS VITA tax program. Pastimes with her husband Chuck include challenge level Western style square dancing, kayaking, camping, eating delicious home grown produce, reading, cheering on the Boston Celtics and visiting with a large extended family.
Suzanne Paugh, Trustee
Suzanne has been a Newfane resident for 15 years. She is the art educator at NewBrook, Townshend and Jamaica Elementary Schools. She also works on web design and graphic design projects for other local organizations. She lives in Williamsville with her husband, Luke, two girls, Lucia and Piper, and their ‘guard’ dog, Giacomo. Suzanne is excited to help the MFL bridge the library-to-school gap and bring more families and students into the library to enjoy it’s diverse collection and inviting space. She hangs a yearly children’s art show in the Crowell Gallery. She loves to showcase her students’ work every year and is thankful for the library’s amazing gallery space for this event.
Kate Gehring, Trustee
Kate lives in Williamsville with her family. She has worked as a lawyer in New York City (and briefly in Paris) and as a reporter in East Africa, and has lived in many places – and there’s nowhere she’d rather be than Southern Vermont. She loves gardening, running, and exploring the woods and hills in and around Williamsville with family and friends. Kate can tell you about the libraries that were important to her as a child – and she’s grateful that the Moore Free Library is part of her own kids’ lives. She believes that libraries are an essential resource for healthy communities, and is happy for the opportunity to support the MFL and the Newfane – Brookline community as a board member.
Karen Bailey Cawrse, Trustee
Karen spent her summers in South Newfane, the birthplace of her grandparents, since birth and moved here permanently in 2013 when she and her husband, Tim, decided to simplify their lives. A graduate of Lesley College, Karen developed a career in health care administration at UMass Medical School, went on to lead the massage therapy program at Salter School, Worcester, and was a small business owner of a day spa before moving to Vermont. Karen’s passions are reading, writing and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She and Tim are stewards of the South Newfane Village Little free Library. Once settled in South Newfane, Karen first volunteered at Moore Free Library, then served as librarian at Jamaica Memorial and at Lydia Taft Pratt Library, Dummerston. She received librarian certification from the State of Vermont. Karen is currently Assistant Librarian at Dover Free Library.
Steve Squires, Trustee
Steve has lived in Newfane since 1999, successfully transitioning from a long career in software development to a life somewhere between retired and homesteading. Steve’s board experience started at All Souls Unitarian Universalist, where he has held positions including Treasurer and President. He joined the library board in 2012. Steve enjoys singing in various local choral groups, and is often seen playing a supporting role for his wife Kathy, whose volunteer activities eclipse his by a wide margin.
Ryan Kelly, Trustee
Strategic Plan for Moore Free Library
May 2014 – May 2019
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Moore Free Library and Crowell Gallery is to collect, preserve, and deliver in a welcoming, convenient and responsive manner, library materials in print and electronic formats to the informational and life long learning needs of the members of the community. In addition, we seek to provide cultural and environmental enrichment through the appreciation of art and the natural world.
PERSONNEL – Continue to utilize skills and talents of professional librarian and community volunteers.
- The Board of Trustees, or their representatives, will annually review the librarian’s goals and plans for the upcoming year, and evaluate the previous year’s strengths and areas needing growth.
- The Board of Trustees will review having length of terms for its’ members and officers.
GALLERY – Re-evaluate the percentage we receive from sales
- Heighten awareness of gallery space and shows throughout the larger artist and collector community, and New England
- Continue to show high quality work in a variety of mediums
- Use gallery space for community events
- Maintain art holdings in our collection, and consider additions as they are presented
TECHNOLOGY – Enhanced technology means library utilization no longer requires patrons to be present in the library building.
- Purchase and maintain hardware and software, so that patrons of all ages will feel comfortable using computers and new technology.
- Explore and implement the publishing of a twice-monthly online newsletter to our patrons.
FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT – Review ownership and proposed plans for property given to us on West Street.
- Make pertinent decisions about land ownership and usage that will best serve the library community for the next 50 years.
- Make an annual list of priorities for the weatherization, maintenance and updating of the library building.
PROGRAMS -Explore the need for programs and workshops relating to community need and interests.
- Continue with book group for adults, and explore book clubs for youth.