The Guilderland Public Library held a special meeting Monday evening to address the recent departure of a business.

As NewsChannel 13 has reported, Café Con Mel closed abruptly last week, after its owner says her business has been the target of racism and harassment.

RELATED: Library café owners detail mistreatment they say forced them to close

The meeting was open to the public, and the library said they wanted to hear from everyone.

The library board of trustees is conducting an investigation.

“The library would like to acknowledge a poor working relationship that formed with the Cafe due to the behavior of some individual members of our staff,” the library said in a statement. “The behavior that occurred was not driven by discrimination based on any protected class, but rather on disagreements on the part of certain members of our staff about roles and responsibilities for library staff versus cafe staff, and differing interpretations of the Cafe’s contract among some members of the library team.”

“It is unfortunate that differences over a contract between the café and library management have devolved to the point where unsubstantiated allegations labeling library staffers as racist are circulating in commentary across social media and in the press,” library union CSEA said in a statement. “These allegations vilify workers, damage reputations, and make staff feel unsafe.”

Library union CSEA released this statement on Monday:

“CSEA-represented staff at the Guilderland Public Library dedicate their careers to fostering community through library programs and services. Library staff are trained professionals who take pride in their work and strive to make the library a place where community members feel welcome, safe, and included.

CSEA and its members at Guilderland Public Library strongly condemn racism and harassment in any form.

It is unfortunate that differences over a contract between the café and library management have devolved to the point where unsubstantiated allegations labeling library staffers as racist are circulating in commentary across social media and in the press. These allegations vilify workers, damage reputations, and make staff feel unsafe.

Reports that library management is powerless to address issues due to the presence of a “union,” is categorically false.

We recognize and value the role that vendor relationships can play in bringing more robust and expansive experiences to library patrons. Future contracts between library management and vendors should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the vendor, library management, and library staff so all parties feel supported.”