Comments on: Stereotypically Remaining Hushed

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:47:28 +0000

I disagree with the AL (I often do) who say that the librarians need to be the ones fighting for the budget. I think the most effective fighters for maintaining library funding are the people for whom the library IS an essential service. My library has a 10% budget cut this year, and right now, the word is that we’ll lose another 20% in the next FY. We are facing serious layoffs, reduction in service hours, and loss of services. The Town Council views us as ‘non-essential,” a “want, not a need” and therefore fair game for a cut. We can go and fight for our jobs, but we will be told we are just looking out for ourselves. I favor packing–and I mean packing–the Council chambers with people who are ready to tell the Council that the library is essential to THEM and WHY. Historically, this is the approach that has worked in our community. I do agree with Elderly Librarian that a Director’s job is demanding and thankless. I did it for 12 years, and they haven’t printed enough money to make me do it again.

By: ILbrary

ILbrary — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:37:33 +0000

Ironically, the report which apparently led the village to layoff the director and other staff was from the consulting arm of Library Associates Companies (LAC), owner of the LibGig job board and sponsor of the Illinois Library Association’s 2009 Librarian of the Year Award. LAC “was hired by the [Oak Brook] Village Board to find ways to cut the library’s budget without affecting services. LAC released a report in August and mentioned the library’s director, saying Klinkow-Hartmann’s ‘demonstrated loyalty to her staff’ would be one factor that would make changes at the library difficult.” Is LAC trying to get people hired or fired? Or burning both ends of the candle?

By: lu

lu — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:09:55 +0000

noone feeds the stereotype more than people who constantly fuss over the stereotype. just ignore it and it will go away.

By: Spekkio

Spekkio — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:16:47 +0000

If you’re interested, official video of this infamous public meeting is available online:
http://www.oak-brook.org/dep_news/board_videos.shtml
Choose the 9-22 meeting; to see supervillain Xinos’ tirade, advance to the 54:50 mark.

By: Elderly Librarian

Elderly Librarian — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:13:40 +0000

This story reminds why I left the public library arena twenty years ago. I got tired of arguing with the “no tax, no spend” people. I was just worn out by it. The job of a public library director is to constantly lobby for the value of your own job. It is exhausting. But I can see that current economic conditions will not put an end to this ongoing task.

By: Elderly librarian

Elderly librarian — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:07:36 +0000

I can’t get this story out of my head either, because I have dealt with the same thing when I was a public library director. I, too, have been threatened with being fired by creeps like that guy in Oak Brook. He is not particularly unusual, it seems, in Illinois or in other states as well. Regrettable, but there are many people out there who do not want to send their money to a public taxing body like the library. Is there a “better way” to “do library service” nowadays? Why doesn’t Oak Brook just contract with another suburban library and pay smaller amounts to have “token” library service? This makes me sick.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:02:54 +0000

Perhaps the media reporting isn’t all what one might think it should be. For example, perhaps this was a report from Faux news.

By: I Like Books

I Like Books — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:28:54 +0000

Maybe there’s something libraries can do to market themselves. Or “educate the public”, if you prefer. The level of such activities has traditionally been zero.

(And I don’t mean “Reading is Cool” posters on the shelf ends.)

By: AlwaysWanted2B

AlwaysWanted2B — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:40:09 +0000

In some cities, city employees have to be extremely cautious about what they say in an city sponsored open public meeting dealing with budgets, etc., as a matter of law or policy. However, Library Boards, friends of the library etc can be effective vocal advocates. I always go to at least one meeting and speak.

By: Agnes

Agnes — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:36:03 +0000

Perhaps the librarians were told to keep quiet by the library administration. I know that in the system I work for, all questions or issues related to funding or layoffs are automatically referred to the department that handles community relations, as a matter of policy. We are unionized, but our union has *no* authority over our personal or political activities whatsoever. However, the library does have that authority, and may exercise it when there’s some big media issue. This may be the case here.