[Publib] Perplexed Librarian 2007 – Part One

[Gerald Ward]

Three years ago I wrote about a number of perplexing, for me, circumstances 
occurring in the large public Library in Sacramento, California.  I have 
worked for this Library for over 17 years.  Two years ago the staff at the 
main library signed a petition asking for the Executive Staff to fix a 
number of staffing, safety and security issue the faced daily.  The remedies 
given were small and the problems still exist, even after continuing 
discussion, and Union intercession.  In May of this year, a Petition of No 
Confidence was presented to the Board, signed by over 700 people, many staff 
in branches, many patrons and Friends of the Library, asking for the removal 
of the Director and Deputy Director of the Library.  This petition has 
generated great discussion in a number of Librarian “blogospheres.”

It is not my intent to answer the misconceptions presented in these blogs.  
They are written by people who have no intimate understanding of why the 
petition was written, signed and presented to the Board.  Nor is it my 
intent to whine or illicit sympathy.  If I did not want to work where I am, 
I would have left long ago.  Nor is it my intent to assassinate anyone’s 
character, but to accurately describe the working conditions within the 
Library system.  I am writing because I am still perplexed.  Are Libraries 
no longer considered valuable?  Are those who work in Libraries, whether 
professional, para-professional, volunteers, and even those who shelve 
materials, considered by any Library Management a valuable asset to 
fulfilling the mission of their Library?

One of the main issues faced by the staff at the Library in which I work is 
the lack of value felt by staff from those Executives who make management 
decisions.  Feeling valuable is individually subjective and emotional.  
Staff signed the petition because they perceived the two Executive Staff 
mentioned held no respect for their individual expertise and experience, 
were not listened to, were patronized or out-and –out ignored.  Executive 
Staff decided to implement a philosophy of public service, and will not 
allow any staff to dissuade them.  Executive staff appear lead by a 
philosophy of malevolent dictatorship, unapproachable and viewed as angry 
toward line staff.  Under this impression, staff have grown afraid of 
retaliation, so they don’t speak out. (I have spoken out on several issues, 
and been heard.  However, my personality does not like being ignored when I 
speak on important points, even when there is dissention.  Plus, I’m a Union 
Shop Steward.)  In their eyes, retaliation has come in the form of forced 
transfers, change of scheduled hours, having duties taken away from them, 
and forced retirement. The consequence is an exodus of staff, forced into 
retirement, finding other jobs, or just plain quitting … leaving.  Over the 
last two years there has been a 25 percent vacancy rate.  This Library 
system has hemorrhaged well-trained and dedicated staff, along with the 
dross.

Is this normal for Library Systems around the country?  Do Library Directors 
tend to not relate to their line staff?  Is there fear in other systems of 
retaliation?  Am I missing something?  Do I need to change the way I think 
about Libraries?

Gerald F. Ward
SPLibrarian at hotmail.com

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