Public Employee Press

Lost in the Stacks
A band founded by Brooklyn Public Library workers mixes music and activism.

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

During the successful fight-back against library cutbacks this spring, a group of library workers who also happen to be talented musicians became a faithful fixture at union rallies.

"We wanted to help publicize the libraries' mission as we faced alarming budget cuts," said guitarist Jack McCleland, a founder of the Lost in the Stacks band, which includes seven members of Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482. The group's participation in the budget campaign helped restore $17 million of the cuts to the city's three library systems proposed by Mayor Bloomberg.

Lost in the Stacks is a broad-based band whose repertoire ranges from jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll and Motown to country and even tangos and waltzes.

Its members, mostly Librarians, include professional musicians, hobbyists, and college music majors. Drummer Richie Araldi is the only member who doesn't work at Brooklyn Public Library. The others are guitarist Stephen Stickney, trombonist Harold Stern, vocalist and keyboard player Rita Meade, flautist Sharon Tidwell, sax player Matthew Cole, and guitarist, vocalist and sax player Clyde Kerlew.

"The band prides itself on members' individual prowess as well as its ensemble sound," said Stickney, and encourages its members to shine as soloists.

Mixing activism and music is part of the mission of the group, which plays regularly at community functions and benefits. But participating also offers the players an opportunity to get together outside of work to unwind and bond through their shared love of music.

"We are available for any kind of gig," said Principal Librarian McCleland, the group's informal leader and a 27-year veteran of the library system, where he manages the central library's Arts, Media, Music and Sports Division. After years of traveling to perform as a professional musician, McCleland decided to settle down and become a Librarian. He majored in English and music at the University of Connecticut and earned his degree in library science at the University of Rhode Island.

A Senior Librarian, Stern is the division's music specialist. Like several members, he has a long musical background. Stern's began 30 years ago in elementary school. He majored in music education at Hofstra University before pursuing his master's degree in library science at Queens College. A Long Island resident, Stern also plays in the Freeport Community Band and the Inwood Marching Band.

"When I started playing, I really didn't think I would wind up being a full-time member because I was a trombone player," he said. "But we are an eclectic group and I ended up staying. And as time went by, I learned to improvise. The more you play, the better you get."

Lost in the Stacks plans to release a CD soon. Information will be available at the group's MySpace and Facebook sites. (Go to either of these and enter "Lost in the Stacks.")