[Publib] Director Selection

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

 

Sue, I think that the point you are making about the willingness of
politicians to follow

those types of rules may apply to LA.  However, I think that could be more
of a cultural

norm for your area and may not apply to other parts of the US.  In some
local political

arenas, there are very few checks and balances.  I think this is
particularly true with

areas that have long-term single political party domination.  This is one of
the reasons

why it is so important to protect the rights to free speech and diverse
political opinions.

 

The ability of local libraries to provide and protect free speech is a good
indication

of the overall local health of democracy.

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-421-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Sue Kamm
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 11:59 AM
To: James Casey; Judith Turner; Publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Director Selection

 

Oh, c'mon, Jim.  You DO have policies in place regarding requests for
reconsideration, don't you?  Are library workers subject to civil service?
You respond to the mayor's "suggestions" by citing your policies and
offering to help him/her utilize them (filling out a request for
reconsideration form, noting when the next civil service exam for the
person's desired position, and reminding him/her that civil service rules
set standards for candidates for jobs in the library).



-----Original Message----- 
From: James Casey 
Sent: Jul 9, 2007 6:37 AM 
To: Judith Turner , Publib at webjunction.org 
Subject: RE: [Publib] Director Selection 




What happens if a Mayor calls and demands that a certain book or title be
removed from the Library or that a certain friend of a friend be hired onto
the Library payroll despite her/his lack of qualifications?  While I agree
that a Library Director must try to modulate and smooth over many situations
between "city hall" and the Library, there comes at time when a polite "no"
is the only alternative.  And what happens if the Director resigns in order
to pacify the Mayor or County Commissioners or Village Manager?  Will a more
malleable replacement "save the day" as far as the Library is concerned or
will that just place the Library in a subservient mode?





Your friendly CyberGoddess and Councilor-at-large,

Sue Kamm

Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA

Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000

Visit my blog:  http://suekamm.blogspot.com

email:  suekamm [at] mindspring.com

Baseball Is Life -- the rest is details
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