Great Barrington — On October 19, the Massachusetts Library Trustees Association (MLTA) named Patrick Hollenbeck its Trustee of the Year.
According to its website, the MLTA’s mission is to serve as a resource for library trustees statewide and help them become knowledgeable advocates for improving libraries. The MTLA’s Trustee of the Year award is given to a public trustee who has “Provided outstanding leadership, distinguished service, and/or exceptional commitment to their library or to libraries on a local, regional or national level.” Hollenbeck has been a trustee for the town’s libraries since 2015.
The town’s library system includes the Mason Public Library at 231 Main Street and the Ramsdell Library at 1087 Main Street in Housatonic.
The MTLA presented the award to Hollenbeck at its annual meeting at Shrewsbury Library on October 19. During the award presentation, Trustee Ruby Chang gave a speech honoring Hollenbeck, in which she praised him for his efforts to revitalize the Ramsdell Library. “This building was loved by all,” Chang said. “It held graduation ceremonies and poetry readings. The halls were filled with music and dance. Many years later, it received an addition to the back-to-house stacks that became too close for a wheelchair to pass. It has one restroom that cannot be used for those with physical disabilities. The roof got replaced but rainwater leaked into the walls. There is no ventilation and the windows do not open. But then along came a neighbor who said he would like to do something about it.”
Chang said that since moving to Housatonic and joining the town’s Library Board of Trustees, Hollenbeck has been a strong advocate for the town’s library system. “[Hollenbeck] encouraged and led the trustees members to move forward with a whirlwind of activities including creating a public opinion survey, writing the five-year library strategic plan with interim library staff review,” Chang said. “He applied for two Community Preservation Committee Grants to secure funding for a new and updated library building program. Then, with overwhelming community support at the annual Town Meeting, he applied for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Construction Grant. The town planner [Christopher Rembold] said he has never seen a more complicated grant application though, he has applied for million-dollar grants many times for our town.”
Chang said that, “[a]s a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a union negotiator, [Hollenbeck] does not take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Hollenbeck is the president of the Boston Musicians’ Association, and he has been a percussionist for the Boston Pops Orchestra for over 40 years. “He has traveled throughout the state, attending in-person library-related conferences while calling on experts and government officials to find out as much as he can on how to proceed with his goals,” Chang said. “He shared countless emails and information on every bit of information possible. He encouraged and cajoled everyone possible, holding signs up to get the community at farmers’ markets, organizing community meetings and writing Facebook information blurbs about the library’s history. The community answered and supported him. Pat had a vision and dared the conservative tradition of the town. This person is someone that I had learned courage from, and Pat is an inspiration for us all.”
Via email, Hollenbeck writes that his nearly 10 years of serving as a library trustee has “been a deeply rewarding journey.” “Being named Trustee of the Year is an honor and a humbling experience,” Hollenbeck writes. “Libraries are a team effort, and this recognition reflects the dedication of all Great Barrington trustees.”
Hollenbeck writes that he became a trustee “because the moment I walked into Ramsdell Library, it felt magical, rich with history but frozen in time.” “As [Ramsdell] is a site recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, it’s been lovingly preserved but hasn’t seen a major renovation since 1928,” Hollenbeck writes. “I became a trustee to bridge the gap between honoring the past and preparing for the future. I wanted to help ensure both Mason and Ramsdell libraries evolve to meet the needs of future generations while cherishing their legacy.”
When asked how the town’s library system could be improved, Hollenbeck writes “Two words: Send money.” “Great Barrington’s libraries rely almost entirely on municipal funding, which leaves us vulnerable,” Hollenbeck writes. “Unlike neighboring towns, we’ve never developed an independent financial support system for our libraries. Stockbridge, for instance, created a philanthropic library fund during the Civil War—162 years later, it’s still supporting their library. The good news? In 2024, a group of dedicated residents launched the Great Barrington Library Fund, a nonprofit committed to securing our libraries’ future. It’s a game-changer, but we have a lot of catching up to do because our library reserves are just one percent of what some other small Massachusetts towns have. Yes, you heard me—one percent.”
Hollenbeck added that the town’s libraries remain a popular destination for patrons in town. “Where else can you go where all are welcome, and everything is free?” Hollenbeck writes. “Let’s not forget the humans behind the desk. Our dedicated, eclectic staff is the heart of our libraries. Where else can you meet someone who once fueled an airplane mid-air or find the perfect book chosen just for you? Libraries are about more than resources; they’re about people. And support your local bookstore. They are an essential part of our ecosystem too.”
