A Library Transformed, A Community Divided: Scarsdale’s Renovation Leaves Longtime Librarians Behind

By: Kaitlyn Martinez

Before

Lead: In 2021, after nearly three years of closure, the Scarsdale Public Library reopened its doors to the public. The result of a $21 million renovation, the library now boasts sleek glass walls, expanded digital resources, and updated community rooms designed to accommodate the modern needs of its patrons. But while the building received a dramatic facelift, a quieter transformation was taking place behind the scenes, one that has left scars that may never fully heal.

For over two decades, Robin Stettnisch devoted herself to the Scarsdale Library as a part-time librarian. A fixture in the children's section and a familiar face to generations of families, Robin's role was more than just shelving books and checking out materials. She was a guide, a mentor, and for many patrons, the heart of the library. In 2018, however, Robin and several other part-time librarians were informed that they would not be returning to their roles after the renovation.

“I remember reading the email and just sitting in shock,” Robin said during an interview conducted outside the library, where she has been protesting every week for the past two years. “Twenty-five years, and that was it. No severance. No ceremony. Just gone.”

The decision to terminate the part-time staff was made by the library board, who cited financial pressures and a need to restructure operations as the primary reasons for the layoffs. The board stated that the reorganization was in line with Westchester County Civil Service rules and was intended to make the library more efficient in the long term.

But to Robin and her colleagues, the move felt like a betrayal. “We were told we might be able to reapply for jobs,” said one former librarian, who wished to remain anonymous. “But those jobs were at entry-level salaries. Imagine starting over after 30 years, with no acknowledgment of your history or expertise. It was humiliating.”

Robin’s weekly protest has become a fixture in the Scarsdale community, as dependable as the new library’s digital displays. Armed with a handmade sign that reads "Heartless Treatment of Library Staff," she stands silently for hours, rain or shine, hoping to spark conversations among the very patrons she once helped.

After

“How has the community responded to your ongoing protest?” I asked Robin.

She paused, glancing toward the glass entrance where children giggled behind the automatic doors. “Mixed,” she said. “Some people walk by without even noticing. But others stop. They ask questions. They remember me, and they listen.”

Public reaction to Robin’s protest has indeed varied. Some longtime residents have expressed outrage over the dismissals. One Scarsdale parent, Julia Lin, recalled her disappointment when she learned of the layoffs. “Robin helped my son find his love of reading. It’s hard to accept that people like her were just cast aside in the name of progress,” she said.

Others have defended the library’s actions, arguing that the changes were necessary to maintain a competitive, technologically relevant institution. “Every organization has to evolve,” said another resident. “I’m sad about the people who lost their jobs, but I also understand that Scarsdale needed a modern library to serve its community better.”

The library board maintains that all decisions were made transparently and with the input of civil service advisors. In a written statement, the board emphasized its commitment to creating a library that would "serve all residents equitably and efficiently" and noted that new hiring practices were implemented to reflect those goals.

Still, Robin isn’t backing down. She continues her protest in the hopes of drawing attention not just to her own story, but to what she sees as a growing trend of institutional callousness.

“Do you believe the library’s actions were justified given the financial constraints?” I asked.

“It may be legal,” Robin replied, her voice firm, “but is it moral? Is it ethical? They had the money for new furniture, new technology, and new landscaping. But they couldn’t keep the people who built the library's reputation?”

Indeed, the financial breakdown of the renovation shows extensive spending on architectural enhancements, including a grand reading room and expanded workspaces. Critics argue that some of that funding could have been allocated to preserving staff positions, or at least offering them adequate compensation and retirement options.

Robin is not alone in her fight. Two of her former colleagues, Nancy Ortiz and Kenji Yamada, have joined her at various points, speaking out at local town halls and submitting letters to the Scarsdale Inquirer. Both served at the library for over 30 years.

“This library wasn’t just our workplace,” said Nancy. “It was our home. We helped kids with their homework, we comforted seniors looking for a warm place in the winter. We weren’t just employees; we were part of this town.”

“The decision came like a wave that wiped out everything we built,” she continued. “We were invested emotionally, not just professionally. Losing the job was like losing a piece of my identity.”

Kenji agreed. “I don’t begrudge the library a new coat of paint. But I think they forgot what made the place worth renovating in the first place. The people.”

He added, “The worst part wasn’t the layoff itself. It was the silence afterward. No thank-you, no community notice, nothing. We were erased. That hurts more than anything else.”

Nancy has since moved to a smaller town in upstate New York, where she volunteers at a local bookshop. Kenji has started offering private tutoring in literature to high school students. Both still miss the sense of community they found at Scarsdale.

Ironically, some patrons have reported that the new library, while visually impressive, feels less welcoming without the longtime staff members who once filled its halls. “There’s this sense of something missing,” said Julia Lin. “It’s more than just faces. It’s the spirit. The warmth.”

The debate over the Scarsdale Library renovation has sparked wider discussions in neighboring towns as well, where similar updates are underway. Many are watching Robin’s protest closely, seeing it as a litmus test for how institutions value their human capital amid progress.

For now, Robin continues to show up, week after week. She has no plans to stop.

“I’m not doing this because I think they’ll hire me back,” she said. “I’m doing this because it matters. Because people should know that progress shouldn’t come at the cost of people’s dignity. This is bigger than me.”

As the sun sets behind the glass facade of the Scarsdale Public Library, Robin folds her sign and walks slowly toward her car. The protest is over for the day, but the fight, in her eyes, is far from finished.