Veissy leaves Somers Library for position in Larchmont

SOMERS, N.Y. - The director of the Somers Library has stepped down after accepting a new position in Larchmont.

Jessica Veissy took over that leadership role in Somers from Jennifer Daddio in 2024.

During her tenure, she managed local grants – including one this year to renovate the library’s teen space -- and community programming.

Veissy announced her pending departure in a “bittersweet” farewell message to the public on Aug. 3. Her last official day was Aug. 7.

“For the past three years, I’ve had the distinct pleasure and privilege of serving this wonderful community,” she wrote. “I came to Somers as a librarian, now director, but I am leaving with so much more than a job, I am leaving with memories, friendships, countless conversations, and a deep appreciation for the people who make this community so special.”

Elizabeth “Liz” Anastasi, who’s headed the library’s adult reference services for two years, is interim director.

Prior to coming to Somers, she was the youth services librarian at Greenburgh Public Library, a reference and young adult librarian at the Field Library in Peekskill, a website and an integrated library system specialist for the Mid-Hudson Library System.

“Our passionate and talented director, Jessica Veissy, has moved on to be the new director at Larchmont Public Library. She will be greatly missed by the Somers community and we wish her the absolute best!” said Anastasi in an email.

“I’m excited. It’s big shoes to fill,” she told Halston Media, referring to the transitionary period and adding that she was looking forward to seeing who the library’s new director will be.

“The library will be in wonderful hands with Liz stepping into this role,” Veissy told Halston Media.

Veissy, who was hired as director of the Larchmont Public Library, said she was leaving Somers “on excellent terms with the Library Board, staff, the Town Board, and my colleagues at The Elephant Hotel.”

“This was simply a personal career decision. I have accepted a position at another library that offers a higher salary, which was an important consideration for my family,” she said in an email. “For these personal reasons, I would rather the focus be on the continued success of the library under Liz’s leadership.”

FOND FAREWELL

The Town Board “sadly” acknowledged Veissy’s resignation at its Aug. 6 meeting.

“This one stings a little bit,” said Supervisor Robert Scorrano before presenting the resolution.

“Jessica’s been a really great addition to the town of Somers. She came in when we needed someone to fill in the spot, worked her way to become the director there,” he said, adding that Veissy was notable for her “bevy of knowledge” and her ability to work well with others.

She also always had the town’s “best interests” in mind, Scorrano said, adding: “We will definitely miss her.”

Councilman Richard Clinchy, who is the board’s liaison to the library, agreed that Veissy was “outstanding.”

“She came at the right time. She left way too soon, for us. But she’s going to a job where I guess there’s, uh, you know, whatever things attracted her,” he said.

“I think she’ll miss Somers but I definitely know that Somers and the kids in the library will miss her,” Clinchy added.

“She did a great job. She was well liked,” said Councilman Anthony Cirieco. “And you know, our library becomes a steppingstone ….”

Veissy's predecessor, Jennifer Daddio, had resigned to take the director’s job at the Chappaqua Library in New Castle. There she was taking over from outgoing director Andrew Farber, who had previously spent five years at the helm of the Somers Library. Farber moved to the Greenburgh Public Library, where he became its “outreach coordinator.” Later he was selected as the director of the Larchmont Public Library in early 2025.

Farber stepped down as the LPL’s director earlier this year. Paul Doherty was appointed interim director while the LPL searched for Farber’s replacement. Daddio is still director of the Chappaqua Library

Speaker Rita Romeu, a Democrat who is running for Town Board this fall, identified herself as a member of the board of The Friends of the Somers Library.

“We on the Friends Board are very, very sad to see her go. And, as I’m sure, after hearing the sentiments of this board, there are a lot of people in town who are very, very sad to see her go too,” Romeu said, adding that Veissy “did a fantastic job and her shoes will be difficult to fill.”

“I know she’s leaving for a more lucrative opportunity and the only thing I want to say is that I hope that, in the future, we can maybe look at how we compensate individuals in this and similar positions so that we can really retain qualified, dedicated staff.”

Thanking Romeu for her comment, Scorrano reminded the public that the library board has a budget that it follows.

Whether the money goes for books and other things or salaries that’s “a fine balancing line,” he explained.

Last year, the town raised part of the library budget by 13 percent and the year before that, “double digits as well,” Scorrano said, adding: “So we are making strides but that is the library board of trustees job to set the salary schedule for employees.”

Cirieco said the library folks will be going through an interview process for the new director and that he expected that the Town Board’s input would be sought in some way.

NEW CHAPTER

In an announcement, Lauren Gottfried, president of the LPL’s Board of Trustees, noted that Veissy was bringing more than 20 years of experience, most recently as the Somers Library’s director and its former head of children’s services.

Before that, she was head of youth services in the Bronxville Public Library and a children’s librarian in the Rye Free Reading Room.

She grew up in Mamaroneck, where family members still live, and was a frequent visitor to the Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Harrison libraries when she was young.

Gottfried also wrote that Veissy’s “enthusiasm, energy, and creativity” was evident in her “prior positions.”

Veissy earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Caldwell College in New Jersey and a Master of Library and Information Science from Long Island University. She is working toward her Public Library Administration certificate from the American Library Association, Gottfried said.

‘ROCK STARS’

Veissy, in her farewell note, thanks library patrons, supporters, and volunteers “for coming through our doors, attending programs, borrowing books, sharing your ideas, supporting the library, and sometimes just stopping by to say hello.”

“I have truly appreciated every single person who has supported the library in big ways and small,” she said, praising the library staff as “absolute rock stars.”

The library board of directors, The Friends of the Somers Library, and the library’s colleagues in the Recreation Department and Town Hall also got a shout-out from Veissy.

Leaving “is not easy,” but she goes knowing that the library was “in very good hands.”

“I’m excited to see all that comes next,” Veissy wrote.