Lisbon Hepburn Library

Michelle Stottlemyer McLagan has always been an active library supporter, and as a child had at least a dozen library cards for various local libraries – this was before libraries became automated and the sharing of library resources as part of a consortium became the norm. While attending University many years ago, she never anticipated a career in public libraries, and her Masters level work was in a totally unrelated field of study.

After being in the workforce for ten years, Michelle became a stay-at-home mother for fourteen years, collaborating with her husband to further public education in the area of open source software, developing and maintaining websites related to OS/2 and later Linux, and working closely with him to run a home-based software business. Her husband passed away at age 45, necessitating her return to the workforce full-time in order to support herself and their teenage daughter.

In 2009, Michelle was volunteering at the Ogdensburg Public Library when two staff members handed her a job announcement from the Ogdensburg Journal and encouraged her to apply. She worked part-time at the library in Lisbon for about a year as the assistant and then applied for and was appointed to the position of Director in October 2010, and has remained the Director for thirteen years.

In 2013, Michelle joined the Canton Free Library in a temporary position at the circulation desk in the children’s room. It started as a six-week position while another staff member was on medical leave. Michelle became a permanent employee, increasing her hours, and taking on more responsibility until she retired in 2022 from her position as Business Manager. Working at CFL gave Michelle a different perspective on library management and outreach, and enhanced her role in Lisbon as the Director.

In the fall of 2016, Michelle was selected to be a Trustee for the Ogdensburg Public Library and was appointed Secretary in January 2017. After serving two years in the Secretary role, she was elected to the position of Chairperson of the board for two consecutive one-year terms, then a year as Vice-Chairperson, and is currently serving her fifth one-year term as Chairperson.

Michelle was awarded the 2017 Outstanding Library Advocate award from the North Country Library System. Within NCLS, she has served on many committees, spent two years as the Secretary of the Library Director’s Organization, and has also won several other awards. With sixty-six libraries in the system, it’s inspiring to see what everyone else is doing, and to work together to provide library services across not only St. Lawrence County, but a four-county region.

Now, in her fourteenth year as Director in Lisbon, Michelle continues to advocate for public libraries, is an active member of the Lisbon Homecoming Committee, and side quests as Chief Editor for a private client.

In 2018, Michelle was selected by Senator Patty Ritchie as a “2018 Woman of Distinction.” According to Senator Ritchie’s website, the “Women of Distinction” program honors distinguished women from the region and throughout the Empire State who have been trailblazers in business, academics and civic life, as well as those who have performed heroic or selfless acts, or have personally excelled against difficult odds.