tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85400708586383852552024-03-13T16:29:05.521-05:00Reclaiming Our Library: Toward a Stronger Urbana Free LibraryThis blog is intended to serve as a clearinghouse for information as well as a space for collegial dialogue related to Urbana Free Library (UFL / The Library). The goal for this blog is to support Urbana community members and other interested persons in advocating for a stronger, more responsive, inclusive Urbana Free Library for the immediate, mid, and long term.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-70938080078376400112015-07-23T08:25:00.000-05:002015-07-23T08:25:16.810-05:00New Challenges at the Urbana Free Library: A Statement by Employee Elisabeth Paulus<div class="tr_bq">
It's been a while since we've posted anything here: we hoped there wouldn't be a need. In the past year, though, concerns about Urbana Free Library staffing and management have grown. Since at least April, staff members have been present at monthly trustees' meetings in increasing numbers both for solidarity and to make their concerns known. </div>
<br />
Over the next couple of weeks, this blog will highlight some of the ongoing challenges at the Library. Today, though, we'll start with the text of a public statement, made at the July 21 trustees' meeting, by library employee Elisabeth Paulus.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
"At our most recent circulation [circ] department meeting, Dawn, the head of circ, informed us that Celeste [Choate], our director, is asking for us to provide her with some highlights of the last year in our department so that she can present them to the Board. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
And we laughed. We laughed because in the last year, our hours in circ have been cut so dramatically that we cannot do our jobs to the best of our ability. And morale is so low at circ that 3 part-time clerks, with more than 20 years experience between them, have resigned. Their positions were not replaced.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Instead, 4 hourly clerks have been hired at circ. The problem with that is that hourly clerks don’t open the library like part-time clerks do, they don’t close the library, they don’t work at the information desk, which is staffed solely by circ clerks, they don’t make non-resident cards, they don’t work on as many special projects. They can’t work enough hours to take on all those extra responsibilities that half-time staff are expected to take on.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Circ has anywhere from 3-5 clerks working on the first floor every minute the library is open. Clerks call in sick, or schedule vacation. And someone must fill those hours. But our director has informed us that her goal is to cut all part-time staff to only 20 hours a week without the ability to pick up hours. We aren’t allowed to pick up all the open shifts, and instead are forced to work short staffed. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Our director says that the budget only allows for hourly staff to pick up hours, but none of our previous directors have made this distinction. And hourly clerks can’t run the department alone, can’t perform every task that circulation performs, which is so much more than just checking items in and out. Circ staff has expressed concern that our customer service is declining and workflow is backing up, with longer wait times for patrons in line and on the phone, and an increase in errors. I personally have expressed this concern to my department head, who has said she understands and has tried to speak to our director about this issue. I’ve spoken with our director about it. She has said numerous times that she doesn’t mind if patrons have to wait in line longer. We mind. And the patrons mind. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Our director, when addressing the library’s financial concerns with us, says she can’t help but notice that staff salaries are the largest portion of our budget. And she has targeted part-time staff using a myriad of excuses…like the Affordable Health Care Act, which requires only that we provide a health plan that is affordable to our full-time staff. We already do. This isn’t an issue unless there is a plan to increase the cost of our health care. If part-time staff average more than 30 hours a week, we are considered full-time according to this act, but our health care is prorated with the more hours we work. And that makes our health care affordable, unless, again, there is a plan to change this policy, there is no reason to use the Affordable Health Care Act as an excuse to limit part-time staff. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
What our director does not address is that administration makes much more than any department. In fact, according to the budget approved by the Board at the June 25th meeting, the average annual salary for the executive and associate directors and the permanent dept heads is over $77,500. While it is budgeted to give the average circulation employee almost $13,500 a year. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
My point is this: the circulation department, specifically part-time staff, is being singled out to bear the brunt of the library’s financial burdens. Just because patrons are using the new methods of check out that we have available, doesn’t mean that circ clerks have lost our value to this library. In fact, we have been given more responsibility, with half-time clerks working at the information desks on every floor of the library. Not to mention, that a circ clerk is the one who signs you up for your library card, explains the opportunities the library holds for you, answers your questions. We are the first face you see when you walk into the library, the first voice you hear when you call. We unlock the doors of the building each morning and announce the all-clear each night. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
And we are being forced out of this library. We are being forced to give poor service. We want to know that you value us, that you care. We want you to fight for us. But don’t ask for any highlights of the last year. There weren’t any. Not for us."</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-75676845758557177382014-06-05T09:13:00.001-05:002014-06-05T09:13:28.123-05:00Messages from Urbana Free Library's new executive directorThe blog has been quiet in recent months, but I wanted to step in for a moment with a couple of messages from Celeste Choate, who joined Urbana Free Library as executive director in April.<br />
<br />
The first is an excerpt of an interview with Choate conducted by Sean Powers of Illinois Public Media. In it, Choate addresses a portion of the concerns that lead to last summer's #Bookgate controversies. You can listen to the excerpt here: <a href="http://will.illinois.edu/news/player/new-urbana-library-director-reflects-on-book-weeking-librarys-future">http://will.illinois.edu/news/player/new-urbana-library-director-reflects-on-book-weeking-librarys-future</a><br />
<br />
The second is a note from Choate to Urbana Free Library patrons and others in the community that is posted on the Library's website: <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2014/05/31/executive-director">http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2014/05/31/executive-director</a><br />
<br />
If you haven't had a chance to meet Choate yet, I hope you'll take her up on her offer. I had lunch with her last week and look forward to what seems to be a new era of transparency and responsiveness in the Library's administration. I'm eager to hear what staff and other patrons think so far.<br />
<br />
Have you met Choate? If so, what were your impressions?<br />
<br />
-CarolUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-16063650152585669782014-01-30T10:49:00.001-06:002014-02-02T08:46:03.333-06:00Public Receptions for Executive Director CandidatesThe following dates and times have been set aside for receptions and remarks from three candidates for the Executive Director position.<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>Celeste Choate, </b><b>Monday, February 3, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)</b><br />
Associate Director, <a href="http://www.aadl.org/" target="_blank">Ann Arbor (MI) District Library (AADL)</a><br />
LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/celeste-choate/5/97/b83">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/celeste-choate/5/97/b83</a><br />
Video presentation: <a href="http://vimeo.com/58209719" target="_blank">Unusual Stuff at AADL</a><br />
<a href="http://annarborchronicle.com/2013/07/19/ann-arbor-library-board-gets-feedback/" target="_blank">Article on AADL Board and updates from July 2013</a><br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>Sarah Rosenblum, </b><b>Friday, February 7, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
Director, <a href="http://www.marshalltownlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Marshalltown (IA) Public Library </a></div>
<div class="p1">
LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sarah-rosenblum/21/ba8/44">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sarah-rosenblum/21/ba8/44</a></div>
<div class="p1">
Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAGe95beZw4" target="_blank">Rosenblum talks about Marshalltown receiving IMLS National Medal for Library Service</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/543434/Rosenblum-accepts-offer-as-director-of-Marshalltown-Public-Library.html?nav=5005" target="_blank">Article on her hiring at Marshalltown from October 2011</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Debra Stombres, </b><b>Monday, February 10, 4:30-5:30 (remarks at 5:00)</b></div>
<div class="p1">
Branch Manager, <a href="http://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">Aurora (IL) Public Library</a></div>
<div class="p1">
LinkedIN: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debra-stombres/20/b25/1a5">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/debra-stombres/20/b25/1a5</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/10414016-423/beyond-the-bookshelves-former-miss-illinois-accepts-role-at-eola-library.html" target="_blank">Article on her hiring as branch manager from February 2012</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://herald-review.com/news/local/city-librarian-candidates-offer-differing-leadership-visions/article_c6bcb660-338c-51e5-9b0f-92a58d871023.html" target="_blank">Article about her as candidate for Decatur (IL) Public Library Director from January 2014</a></div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
According to a <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2014-02-01/finalists-urbana-library-post-coming-town.html" target="_blank">News-Gazette article</a>: </div>
<div class="p2">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Library Board President Chris Scherer said the decision to hold public sessions with the three finalists was made to add transparency to the process. This will be residents' opportunity to give their input, he said."</b></blockquote>
There seems to be limited time for Q&A at the 'receptions,' but get out there and ask them anyway! For instance, how will the candidates<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>address staff concerns that existed before #bookgate but have persisted (and in some instances, been amplified)?</li>
<li>regain and enhance public trust?</li>
<li>improve transparency in administration?</li>
<li>include staff and community meaningfully in strategic planning?</li>
<li>bridge the digital / app / device / access divide in the community?</li>
</ul>
<br />
There's also a <b>newly scheduled 'special' meeting of the Board of Trustees</b> on Monday, February 3, at 3:15 pm in the Satterthwaite Conference Room (UFL basement) with two items on the agenda: public comment and a closed session for personnel matters. <i>[Nb. We've since learned that the closed session is for the Board to interview the director candidate.]</i> Perhaps use the public comment time to remind the Board what the community values / wants in an executive director.<br />
<br />
-------<br />
<br />
The text of the official press release from Urbana Free Library follows.<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
Public Receptions for Urbana Free Library Director Candidates</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees and the Search Committee for the Executive Director have announced that three candidates are selected as finalists in the national search and will be visiting The Urbana Free Library for on-site interviews in February. The public is invited to meet each candidate at a scheduled reception. All three public receptions will take place from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room on the library’s main floor, and each candidate will make brief remarks at 5:00 pm.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The reception on Monday, February 3 will introduce finalist Celeste Choate, currently the Associate Director of Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan. The public may meet finalist Sarah Rosenblum, who is currently employed as Library Director for Marshalltown Public Library in Iowa, at the reception scheduled for Friday, February 7. The reception on Monday, February 10 will introduce finalist Debra Stombres, currently employed as the Branch Coordinator for the Aurora Public Library Eola Road Branch in Illinois.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
More information may be found on the library’s website at <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/"><span class="s1">urbanafreelibrary.org</span></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-1780455173638418332013-10-08T16:25:00.000-05:002013-10-08T16:25:10.635-05:00A Prelude to Tonight's Board of Trustees MeetingTonight's meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium, and as we have for the past four months, we'll be sharing the meeting via a <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ucimc" target="_blank">video livestream</a> and through Twitter (you can view the feed on this blog's front page).<br />
<br />
The agenda and documents are <a href="http://bit.ly/19aTEAZ" target="_blank">available online</a>, but in short, the Trustees will be voting on collection policy documents and discussing more about the search for a new executive director (you'll find a draft of the job description at that last link).<br />
<br />
In the Department Reports, we learned from Interim Head of Adult Services Mary Towner that the Library sent approximately 8,566 books to Better World Books early this summer. Of these, 2810 were added back to the collection and a nearly equivalent number were officially weeded. Although the bulk of the art and religion collections are now intact, Towner notes that approximately 3,000 volumes were not returned or are otherwise unaccounted for.<br />
<br />
The community is still watching what goes on at the Library vigilantly. For instance, on a neighborhood association e-mail list last week, a resident posted about what seemed to be another weeding project. <a href="http://bit.ly/17H0Y8F" target="_blank">Towner posted a thoughtful blog entry</a> discussing what was really happening - <a href="http://www.lis.illinois.edu/" target="_blank">students from GSLIS</a> were undertaking a preliminary evaluation of a portion of the collection - and that librarians from adult services were supervising.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for updates, but we here at Reclaiming Our Library hope to see many local residents come to tonight's meeting (and next month's meeting and the one after that...)<br />
<br />
As a parting note, may we all have as much desire to be involved in our communities as <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/10/08/meet-the-12-year-old-regular-at-dallas-city-council-meetings-video/" target="_blank">this 12-year old Dallas boy, profiled recently in the Washington Post blog</a>. Take a watch!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-12174540379698751222013-09-11T11:03:00.001-05:002013-09-11T11:08:46.743-05:00The Hunt for a New Director<div class="tr_bq">
At the <a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/2013/09/notes-from-trustees-meeting-10-september.html" target="_blank">September 10 meeting</a>, the Trustees announced that Bob Burger - a retired University of Illinois librarian - would helm the search committee for the Urbana Free Library's new executive director and that the process would proceed, as President Scherer noted, with "all due haste."</div>
<br />
Following that announcement, a lively and chaotic discussion ensued in which the Trustees wrangled with logistics: who would appoint the other members of the committee? to whom is the search committee accountable? what will the committee use as criteria for evaluating candidates? The answers to most of those questions seemed to reside in the person of Bob Burger. It is he, the Trustees concluded, who will appoint the committee, determine its direction, and develop evaluative criteria.<br />
<br />
What seemed most clear from this discussion is that the Trustees don't understand the search process.<br />
<br />
In looking back at the Board minutes from the last director search in 2006, the process worked much differently.<br />
<br />
For instance, here's what the <a href="http://www.city.urbana.il.us/_Boards_-_Commissions/Urbana_Free_Library_Board/Agendas_2006/Library_05-09-06_minutes.pdf" target="_blank">minutes from May 2006 </a>state,<br />
<blockquote>
Kate McDowell passed out for review a new time line for hiring a new Executive Director. She also passed out the job description and the job advertisement and revised them on her laptop computer as Board members and staff made suggestions. The Board discussed a number of points, including the best way to present the salary range, whether specific details should be in the job description or a job contract, and whether specific job expectations and experiences should be required or preferred. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
The Board also discussed where and when to advertise, who should be on the search committee and advisory committee, and who should meet the top candidates. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
It was moved by Charlie Smyth, seconded by William Golden, and passed unanimously that Jane Williams and Kate McDowell co-chair the search committee. The Board will discuss at the next meeting who else should be a part of the search committee. Kate mentioned that the search committee will have two main tasks, the initial screening of candidates, followed by selecting and interviewing candidates to be interviewed in Urbana.</blockquote>
In this scenario - even before a committee was appointed - there was a sense of process and a concrete job description.<br />
<br />
Here's a little more from <a href="http://www.city.urbana.il.us/_Boards_-_Commissions/Urbana_Free_Library_Board/Agendas_2006/Library_08-08-06_minutes.pdf" target="_blank">August 2006</a>.<br />
<blockquote>
Kate McDowell presented several items to the Board for their consideration.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
It was moved by Jane Williams, seconded by Charlie Smyth, and passed unanimously that the Director Interview Template be approved as presented. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
It was moved by Charlie Smyth, seconded by Barbara Gillespie, and passed unanimously that the Director Hiring Process Timeline be approved as modified.<br />
<br />
It was moved by Charlie Smyth, seconded by Jane Williams, and passed unanimously that the Search Committee should consist of Kate McDowell, James Quisenberry, Jane Williams, one other Board member, a member of the staff, and a member from the Foundation. The Search Committee will screen applications and conduct the phone interviews. The whole Board will take part in the interviews which involve bringing in candidates. It is anticipated that six to seven people will be interviewed by phone, and the top two or three candidates will be interviewed in person. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
It was moved by Charlie Smyth, seconded by Chris Scherer, and passed unanimously that the letter asking for staff input be sent out to staff as modified. </blockquote>
We learn, thus, that the composition of the search committee - determined by the Board - and that there was an interview template.<br />
<br />
Several of the current Trustees (Mel Farrell, Jane Williams, Chris Scherer) were also Trustees in 2006, so surely there is some institutional memory that can serve as a starting point. For whatever reason, it was Farrell who seemed insistent on giving power to Burger.<br />
<br />
I'm certain more will be revealed in the next few weeks, but at the moment I am concerned that the Trustees are abdicating their responsibilities by investing an individual external to the Board with so much authority. Certainly I hope that there will be opportunities for people outside of the Library's administration who can provide input on hiring, but it would be unfortunate if in their haste to hire a new director, the Trustees don't proceed with purpose and direction.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-31881043817317687972013-09-11T09:43:00.000-05:002013-09-11T09:43:22.960-05:00Notes from Trustees Meeting (10 September)Last night's meeting was relatively brief - a little less than an hour - but it was packed with information. In fact, it seemed the public learned more from the trustees and staff at Urbana Free Library about the ongoing issues related to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bookgate&src=typd&f=realtime" target="_blank">#bookgate</a> in last night's meeting than in any other forum to date.<br />
<br />
Notably the trustees described the terms negotiated for former director Lissak's terminal contract and some general details about how the search for a new permanent director will proceed.<br />
<br />
We learned too from acting head of adult services Mary Towner that 297 boxes of books were probably shipped to Better World Books (BWB) during June. Towner spent 45 minutes on the phone with BWB, but that would have been unnecessary if the employee who has access to the Library's BWB account would simply provide access to it. So it seems that among the ranks of the Library's staff, partisanship and allegiances continue to hold sway.<br />
<br />
Another takeaway from the meeting is that the trustees might need refresher courses in <a href="http://www.robertsrules.com/" target="_blank">Robert's Rules of Order</a>, <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2012/10/I-A%20%20Bylaws%20of%20the%20Board%20of%20Trustees_12.pdf" target="_blank">their own by-laws</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=84&ChapterID=2" target="_blank">Illinois Open Meetings Act</a>. Much of the confusion focused on two issues: how to change the meeting time for the regular board meetings and on the chain of command for the search committee (e.g. who chooses who serves on it - the appointed head of the committee or the Trustees).<br />
<br />
You can read a brief article about the meeting in <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-09-10/urbana-free-library-board-approves-separation-contract-former-library-executiv" target="_blank">the News-Gazette</a>, but be sure to check out some <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e_jxSPB-gfWAD92n6IAUNOxe4_fALuBopMVlfNM9krs/edit" target="_blank">notes provided by Kathryn La Barre</a> who attended the meeting. There is also a <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ucimc" target="_blank">recording available of the meeting courtesy of JP Goguen</a>, but the sound quality is hit and miss.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-5630762741536408252013-09-09T17:46:00.000-05:002013-09-09T17:51:34.462-05:00With Friends Like These...Allow me to call your attention to a brief announcement in the <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/09/2013-09-10%20Board%20memo.pdf" target="_blank">September 2013 Director's Report</a>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The August 22-26 book sale raised $7,147. The sale included items from the library collection from the Better World Books shipment that were not returned to the collection after careful re-evaluation by the Adult Services librarians. According to the Friends, of the 145 boxes of books offered to the Friends for the sale, a total of three boxes of books were selected by the public."</blockquote>
<div>
Dear Reader, I attended this book sale on Saturday, August 24. Full disclosure: I bought a handful of books that had been returned from Better World Books and not added back to the collection. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most of the books that filled the Lewis Auditorium were donations, not discarded library books. The paperback mystery selections—no library copies among them—were lovingly attended and groomed by a circulating clutch of Friends. The romance and fantasy paperbacks were also tenderly tended. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Library's former books? The ones at the heart of #bookgate? They were partitioned off in two small rooms, still in boxes, difficult to browse. A few other boxes, even more jumbled, were shoved into a corner of the large room. There were signs pointing the curious to "Former Library Books."<br />
<br />
I didn't count the boxes - adorned with the Better World Books logos on their sides - but I would be surprised if there were more than 50 available all told. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Where were the other 100 boxes? I have no idea. Some were stacked up in the back hallway. A Reclaiming traveler said when s/he inquired about them, s/he was told the boxes contained "crap fiction" that no one would want.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps, just maybe, the Friends could have sold more than 3 boxes of the returned books if they lovingly groomed and curated even a small portion of them in the same way they did the rows of James Patterson, Sue Grafton, and Lillian Braun.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, the Friends didn't want any of the returned library books to sell, period. As one of the Friends stated during public comment at the June 19 Special Meeting of the Library's Board (<a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/34612995" target="_blank">you can listen at about 01:26:00 mark in this recording</a>), no one wants to buy old library books anyway. We were told to trust the Friends, that they know better than even the librarians what the community wants to read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With Friends like these, who needs enemies?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-42530696459284565042013-08-28T10:21:00.003-05:002013-08-29T22:44:29.612-05:00Immaterial? Inconceivable!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;">Maybe-current Executive Director Deb Lissak, Maybe-interim Executive Director Kathy Wicks, and Trustee Mel Farrel were not in attendance last night. Lissak's attorney was nowhere in evidence. The climate in the packed Sattherthewaite conference room verged into the intemperate zone as tempers ran hot, as did the temperature.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVgETrjjvBDzZg4L4dQt250uV6HRn320wLnp6-G4FaVPOmVStJedYV6mAOEvpb9tmMcVK6p7nWK6Vjv-R9HeD_MD7D6Fl2rIA9y5Q4sttDGejIy4VjKGr3XRyFzRPP0Zzfl0DMXEgo4c/s1600/immaterial.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVgETrjjvBDzZg4L4dQt250uV6HRn320wLnp6-G4FaVPOmVStJedYV6mAOEvpb9tmMcVK6p7nWK6Vjv-R9HeD_MD7D6Fl2rIA9y5Q4sttDGejIy4VjKGr3XRyFzRPP0Zzfl0DMXEgo4c/s320/immaterial.tiff" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Chris Scherer opened the meeting by advising us that public comment would be limited as a closed session would commence at 7pm in order for the Board to have a phone conference with their attorney "on personnel." He was clearly agitated and emphatic in advising the assembled that the Board had no announcements for us. We were informed that after the closed session we could expect no further announcements. We were advised to keep our comments brief.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Mark Netter injected a note of calm following these opening remarks with his
statement here:
<a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/2013/08/late-august-updates.html">http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/2013/08/late-august-updates.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">After closed session the Board did have one announcement - they will convene a special meeting on September 4, at 7 p.m. in the UFL auditorium.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">First the hopeful signs:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The meeting was livestreamed and is archived here:</span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2]" style="font-size: small;"><span data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2].[0]"><a class="" data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[1]" href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ucimc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ucimc</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2]" style="font-size: small;"><span data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2].[0]">Yesterday and today news about <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=bookgate&src=typd&mode=realtime" target="_blank">#bookgate</a> reappeared on the radio (</span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2]" style="font-size: small;"><span data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2].[0]">WILL) </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2]" style="font-size: small;"><span data-reactid=".r[2unur].[1][4][1]{comment10151560357625906_27289076}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][2].[0]">with small soundbites sprinkled liberally throughout the programming. Here is one such piece: <a href="http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/lissak-still-working-at-urbana-library-following-weeding-scandal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/lissak-still-working-at-urbana-library-following-weeding-scandal</span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The News Gazette published a credible overview here: <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-08-27/confusing-situation-arises-2-directors-payroll.html">http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-08-27/confusing-situation-arises-2-directors-payroll.html </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I appreciate the extremity of the situation which the Board of Trustees now faces and I am sympathetic about the pressures they face. It would seem that they can't answer many of our questions because concerns about of legal liability, and because much remains unresolved. We verified the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">There is no separation agreement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Lissak has not resigned.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Lissak still reports to work and it is unclear who is in charge of the library on a day to day basis and to whom staff should be reporting (according to statements made in the <a href="http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/lissak-still-working-at-urbana-library-following-weeding-scandal">WILL piece</a> above). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Negotiations are ongoing in an attempt to seek a separation agreement with Lissak.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Last night seems to have been the Board's first opportunity to consult with an attorney.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Last night's meeting gave us a new word for our vocabulary: Immaterial. Chris Scherer, Board President, who appeared increasingly frustrated and angry as the evening unfolded repeatedly used this term to dismiss many of our questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Al Kagan led the public comment with observations about the 'two popes' problem facing the library as indicated by the <a href="http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/lissak-still-working-at-urbana-library-following-weeding-scandal">WILL transcript</a> of Scherer's comments which indicate that there are two acting directors (Lissak and Wicks). He stated that the director continues to demonstrate her incompetence by not removing herself from leadership of the library in a dignified way, and is prolonging harm to the library. He urged the Board to fire her due to her gross incompetence. </span><br />
<br />
Carol Tilley brought copies of the Library Journal article here:<br />
<a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/opinion/michael-stephens/collection-bashing-trashing-office-hours/">http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/opinion/michael-stephens/collection-bashing-trashing-office-hours/ </a> She advised the trustees that the events at UFL are being watched by people in the US and Internationally as this is an issue affecting libraries everywhere.<br />
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<br />
JP Goguen thanked the trustees for opening up public comment. He noted that Lissak was given an opportunity for a graceful honorable exit, and expressed his appreciation for the upcoming consultation with an attorney. He addressed the civil service guidelines for termination as the tool that would allow them to be aggressive in pursuing her termination.<br />
<br />
A dispute about Lissak's actual employment classification ensued as Scherer indicated that she is a civil service employee, and Becky Brown stated emphatically that she is not. Lissak is an exempt class employee of the City of Urbana, and she has a current contract for employment.<br />
<br />
Kate McDowell then testified by stating her appreciation for the ability to comment and addressed the trustees requests for trust and faith "It is faith that brings us here, what we say may not indicate full trust. That is our job - we are asking you to represent us. I know we may not all agree. We show up because we care and because we have faith. When we speak please do not address our comments as silly." She asked for the trustees to foster respectful dialogue, and began to ask a series of questions which were interrupted by Scherer.<br />
<br />
She asked if a paid separation agreement has been reached, if the director has resigned, who is the library director, what is the legal authority that makes this person director? Where is this contract? Why are we pursuing separation and not termination? What is the authority that grants the ability to pay two directors at once?<br />
<br />
McDowell then suggested that the trustees consider more openness by soliciting public input on the appointment of and terms of the contract for the next director. She asked for clear answers in this very confusing situation. After being interrupted several times near the conclusion of her comments Scherer told her she was done talking and dismissed her from the podium.<br />
<br />
Aimee Rickman stated her outrage about the inaction of the Board, how appalled she is by the squandering of public funds and by the fact that the pillaging of the library has not prompted more decisive action on the part of the trustees, despite repeated calls for action. She addressed the fact that the contract with Lissak was renewed - at which point she was interrupted by Scherer - who advised her that she did not know what she was talking about. Rickman countered by asking the Board to help us understand what is going on. At this point the trustees seemed to indicate that a contract was in place prior to their awareness of the issues at the library.<br />
<br />
Rickman then stated her frustration about the lack of willingness to protect library workers by addressing the bullying. She asked the trustees what they were doing to protect staff, and highlighted the 'no time' / 'needing more time' disconnect. Recent events of the library unfolded quickly under the oversight of the Board. Now the Trustees continue to state that there is insufficient time to conduct a SWOT analysis, for example, prior to state reporting requirements. The Board continues to ask the public for more time, and yet the urgency of the situation intensifies in direct proportion to the lack of clear communication from the Board. Rickman then renewed her questions about how many books were removed.<br />
<br />
In response - Scott Bennett, Trustee, advised us that the trustees are trying to proceed mindfully and not incur any further liability for the library. There is no separation agreement. There is an existing contract which must be honored.<br />
<br />
We were advised by Chris Scherer that questions about the number of books that came back are immaterial. That the number of books that were sent out is immaterial. This speaker was advised her time for speaking was over.<br />
<br />
Carol Tilley interjected that the trustees interactions by this point in the meeting were now contrary to the spirit of respect and open dialogue the group had repeatedly requested. Indeed, The plea for respect that Kate McDowell presented earlier seemed to create an equal yet decidedly opposite reaction.</div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<br />
Ashley Price took the podium next and asked about transparency for the strategic plan, and stated her concerns about the fact that most of the information was coming from rumors as no official communication was forthcoming from the board about the many extant questions the public continues to restate from meeting to meeting.<br />
<br />
Chris Scherer stated emphatically that 'Rumors are a problem.'<br />
<br />
Stuart Levy, speaking on behalf of an Urbana resident asked about the status of the search for a new director particularly with respect to this now unsettled situations with two acting directors. He asked for a public resolution as expeditiously as possible.<br />
<br />
After roll call the Trustees convened in closed session.<br />
<br />
This meeting unsettled everyone and left Board members and the public alike disappointed and frustrated. The complexity of the situation is now far more clear, as the path to resolution leads into a briar and bramble filled terrain. The concerns the public continues to state are not irrelevant, not unimportant, in other words not - as Scherer deemed them <b>IMMATERIAL</b>.<br />
<br />
What we have here is a failure to communicate. I add one further plea to the trustees. We know there is much you can not tell us. Please tell us what you can and clearly define what you can't. If we have things wrong, please tell us. The rumors that have upset you will only grow in this vacuum.<br />
<br />
We sincerely hope that Scherer's statement about the problematic nature of rumors does not bode ill for current employees who still have no protection in this rapidly evolving situation. We appreciate and respect your continuing efforts under unimaginably difficult circumstances. We look forward to a more respectful and open dialogue with you.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03958359455189347834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-83161551088073542452013-08-28T07:23:00.000-05:002013-08-28T07:32:12.383-05:00Statement from Mark Netter - member of the UFL Board of Trustees <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>August 27, 2013</b><br />
<br />
Last night in a packed special session in the Satterthwaite meeting room, with eight of the trustees in attendance [Mel Farrel was absent], and with Becky Brown taking notes - I counted 25 people at the meeting, some were press members, most were citizens. After a brief statement by Chris Scherer - which I'll post about next - Mark Netter read the following comment as a response to a post on this blog earlier that day - Late August Updates <a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/">http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/</a><b> </b><br />
<br />
He provided us with the text of this comment and asked us to share it with you here:<br />
<br />
Comments on August 27 2013 UFL Meeting<br />
<br />
For the past two months UFL board members, UFL staff, and members of the community have come to understand that there were deep seated issues that must be addressed.<br />
<br />
We have listened to the public, and have started the process of change. Some people believe that the board is moving too slowly, there may even be a few thinking otherwise.<br />
<br />
Most of the board's meetings take place in public, and that is both the right thing to do as well as the law.<br />
<br />
However, the main purpose of tonight's meeting is to have closed session discussions with our attorney and on personnel. That meeting is the board's first with our attorney and is scheduled for 7:00 pm.<br />
<br />
Why didn't we find a bigger space? Because of the agenda, I really didn't think that a large number of people would attend just to watch us go into closed session and come back out later with no announcements. To hold this meeting in the Auditorium displaces another group that has a regularly scheduled claim to that space. Moving the board meeting to another facility and making the necessary arrangements seemed wasteful. If I was wrong, I am sorry.<br />
<br />
We hope that the members of the public will understand the need for the board to conduct lawfully permitted closed sessions from time to time. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03958359455189347834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-72294741543607130612013-08-27T11:00:00.000-05:002013-08-28T08:22:05.462-05:00Late August Updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tonight (Tuesday), August 27, at 6:30 p.m., the Urbana Library Trustees will hold a special meeting in the Library's Satterthwaite Conference Room. The agenda is simply two items: public comment and closed session.<br />
<br />
Many of us appreciate the opportunity the Trustees have afforded for additional public comment, but there are a few problems accompanying it as well. Let me outline two of them.<br />
<br />
First, the meeting location holds only 14 people. The Trustees and staff who regularly attend the meetings will easily fill most of those spaces. How exactly can public comment occur effectively? The other two regular meeting spaces at the Library are booked for other events, but why not move the Trustees' meeting elsewhere such as the Urbana Civic Center or the City Building or, hell, even the quiet reading room on the Library's main floor?<br />
<br />
Second, the trustees have continued in their silences. I realize that legal issues (the former? Executive Director has apparently hired an attorney to aid in negotiating the 'early separation' that was announced in July) preclude comment on some issues. Yet, the complete public silence suggests that the Trustees still lack any sense of urgency to meaningfully address issues related to governance, personnel administration, strategic planning, and more.<br />
<br />
I am beginning to shift my views that the Trustees are acting from a position of benign incompetence to one of willful and hubristic obstructionism. <b>Urbana Library Trustees, please prove me wrong. </b><br />
<br />
#Bookgate has also reached the pages of <a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/" target="_blank">Library Journal</a>. In his August column, Michael Stephens reminds the greater library community why #bookgate is not simply a local Urbana issue. You can read it here: <a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/opinion/michael-stephens/collection-bashing-trashing-office-hours/">http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/opinion/michael-stephens/collection-bashing-trashing-office-hours/</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-53521507047101887272013-08-14T08:22:00.002-05:002013-08-23T07:03:41.270-05:00One step forward, two steps back? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last night’s UFL Board of Trustees meeting was lightly
attended by about 30 people, including Lissak’s attorney. Confusion (for the
third time in a row) about the start time of the meeting resulted in the loss
of public comment for several who arrived at 7:30. Public comment ended by 7pm.
I'd like to thank those who provided comment, including Kate McDowell, Laura Haber, Al Kagan, and Danielle Chynowith. This meeting provided some answers and resulted in more questions. I’ll call
this a 'two steps forward one step back' outcome since I’m feeling charitable
this morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steps forward:<br />
The IMC livestreamed the meeting. UPTV recorded the proceedings. View them here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/37270267">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/37270267</a> and here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/37271369">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/37271369</a><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/37271369"></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An interim director was appointed effective immediately:
Kathy Wicks – Lissak’s Associate Director for the past 4-5 years. Lissak remains on the payroll - as her contract was renewed on July 1, and her role at UFL is unclear. She was quite vocal at the meeting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A national search will commence for the position of
Executive Director, timeline to be announced. A working group consisting of
Mark Netter and Beth Scheid will craft the search process.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The UFL Board announced a special meeting for <u>Tuesday,
August 27 at 6:30</u> in the <strike>UFL auditorium</strike>. correction from the UFL website: > <i><u>Satterthwaite conference room on the ground floor</u></i>. Under discussion may be the criteria
for the search candidates, and the proposed search process among other items. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of the 259 boxes returned by BWB only 40 remain to be evaluated. Adref staff
have carefully (and I'd say heroically) reassessed the contents and 2074 books have been returned to the
collection. The target completion date is one month from now. Return rate is approximately 50%, though the remaining boxes have
subjects such as finance and health – which have higher weed rates due to temporality. Scherer
estimates that at $12.50 valuation per book/ this means over $25,000 in resources have been
restored to UFL shelves. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As part of the state library reporting process - Kathy Wicks recognizes the need to learn more about the UFL
audience and how to reach them. The public has been directed to send ideas for
how to do this to her. These ideas may be incorporated into an actual SWOT
(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis – "at some point in
the future". </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The UFL grievance policy revision is in the hands of the city, which is
overseeing the process. (according to Chris Scherer).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steps backward:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Confusion about the Board meeting start time (again!) –
Listed as 7:30 on the library calendar (but corrected by the morning of the
meeting), in the reminder email sent out by UFL and as 6:30 in the meeting agenda,
and the flyer posted on the announcement board at UFL.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scherer characterized role of comment on the strategic plan
with what appears to be another retrenchment – "The strategic plan will be
evaluated and the new director will have input." There was no indication if – or
when – the public would be allowed to comment. <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mel Farrell is back from vacation with a new word she likes to use:
‘silly’ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She did praise the staff, while reminding the audience “we
don’t often have the luxury of hiring immediately” and we shouldn’t worry about
this because our ‘eminent staff will carry on.’ Ostensibly we’ve all been
worried about a decline in programs and services and we just don’t need to be!
Aren’t we silly! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
News Gazette coverage – which – again doesn’t quite get
things right in ways that inaccurately color the news. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-08-13/many-books-find-way-back-stacks.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-08-13/many-books-find-way-back-stacks.html</span></a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No one said that “many of the removed books have been
returned to the stacks.” We were actually told – again – that the numbers are
not available, though Mary Towner feels this may be possible once all of the
boxes have been unpacked and assessed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Towner didn’t say: “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">she believes the
actual number of removed books may have been smaller than that [9,343 is the number stated in the article].” What she
told us is that not all of the yellow highlighted books on the spreadsheet were
removed because the weeding stopped prior to completion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Continued vigilance is needed, and indeed appreciated by Chris Scherer - President of the Board of Trustees, though he repeatedly warned us not to push too hard - especially on timelines. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03958359455189347834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-48702401433281458992013-08-01T15:11:00.000-05:002013-08-01T15:11:35.641-05:00JP Goguen looks back on #bookgateJP Goguen, who helped bring the news of June's massive and misguided weeding project at Urbana Free Library to light, has <a href="http://publici.ucimc.org/?p=49877" target="_blank">written a summary of the past two month's events</a>.<br />
<br />
As we wait for a response from the Library's Board of Trustees to the open letter mailed to them this week, we hope you'll read JP's article and explore this blog to help catch up on what you missed and why it matters.<br />
<br />
On the Library's site, you can also find results of a <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/your-right-know" target="_blank">recent parking and transportation study</a> (see Planning Studies) it commissioned.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-63586776717202621162013-07-26T19:12:00.000-05:002013-07-28T12:22:37.727-05:00An Open Letter to the Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To the Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees: </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-67820470-1d76-e011-5420-d7fb7fee2983" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In early June members of the public learned of immense changes taking place at the Urbana Free Library. Since then hundreds of people have attended and spoken at Board meetings, signed petitions, contacted you personally, written public letters and comments, and otherwise shown concern for UFL. We appreciate the Board’s promise of greater transparency and its pledge to listen to community concerns. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To that end, we would like to bring the following questions to the Board. These are not our only questions, but they are some of the most pressing ones and some we have been asking for nearly two months. As you work towards the best possible outcome for this beloved public institution and for the community as a whole, we hope and trust that you will respond to these questions quickly, thoroughly, and openly.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) How will the Board of Trustees address public concerns voiced at the June and July Board meetings?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) At its July 9 meeting, the Board announced it would pursue an early separation agreement with the current executive director. What is the timeline for hiring personnel — specifically an interim executive director, an executive director, and a director of adult services — at UFL?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) What criteria will be used for evaluating prospective candidates for the positions of interim executive director and executive director?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) As library staff have reported both publicly and in confidence that they were bullied and pressured by the Library’s executive director, what progress has been made towards updating the untenable, twenty-year old grievance process for staff?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Led by an outside consultant with little knowledge of our community, the Library created a strategic plan. Some of these planned changes — such as an effort to provide more community spaces — were made public through documents on the Library’s website after the controversy began. Other significant changes — such as a drastic reduction in the physical magazine collection — have only been addressed by library administrators. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(5) Are there plans for repurposing space? If so, what are they? Is there a long term strategy to increase the size of the building?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(6) What are short term plans for the following portions of the physical / print collection?</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Periodicals: Will these be reduced in number during the next 12-24 months? If so, why? What is the basis for this decision?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A/V materials including CDs and DVDs: Some sections of this collection have already been significantly weeded; will this continue? Why?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the Library committed to maintaining strong, diverse nonfiction and fiction print collections?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the budget for ‘replenishing’ the collections with new items?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will there be balanced growth of physical and digital items?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the July 9 Board meeting, the community was told that the strategic planning process would not be reopened, but that the public would be allowed to provide comment for an ‘addendum’ to the plan. Not only is the role of this addendum unclear, it will be difficult for the public to give meaningful comments since details about implementation such as timing and logistics (such as implications for personnel and re-allocation of library resources) are not currently available to the public.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(7) What is the Board’s understanding of the scope and purpose of the strategic plan as it has been adopted?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What role will public comment play? For instance, will the Board use public comment to modify the existing (adopted) strategic plan? </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are the specific action steps for the objectives and priorities in the current plan?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 48px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the plan viewed as an entirely new vision for services and collections at UFL or is it viewed as a strategy for allocating resources to enhance existing services and collections? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please act to restore the community’s trust in Urbana Free Library. We are watching and listening. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Danielle Chynoweth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brian Dolinar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Paul (JP) Goguen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ben Grosser</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura Haber</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charles Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frances Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taylor Hocutt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barbara Horne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Betsy Hearne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andrew Heathwaite</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daniel S. Johnson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Al Kagan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dan Keding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kathryn La Barre</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate McDowell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Erin Miller</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tracy Nectoux</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jadon Peck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ashley R. Price</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jennifer Roth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carey Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lawrence D. Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joan Stolz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maggie Taylor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don Thorsen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carol L. Tilley</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">——————————————————————————</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are an Urbana (or Champaign) resident and wish to have your name added to this letter prior to its release to the News-Gazette site and its mailing to the Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees, please send your name and street address to reclaimingourlibrary@gmail.com by Monday, July 29, at noon. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-91287450131388317212013-07-21T13:53:00.000-05:002013-07-21T13:53:41.691-05:00A Little NewsThe Library's <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/07/June%202013%20Statistics.pdf" target="_blank">June 2013 statistical report</a> was posted this weekend, making available a more complete view of changes in collections and circulation over the past several years. <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqRbQRx4qJA1dGRWQzhmQVBDMmF0NkRoMnJiOXR1NXc&usp=sharing" target="_blank">You can view a compilation spreadsheet of data points since 2007</a> and offer your comments / questions as well.<br />
<br />
Interestingly the June 2013 report DOES NOT include accurate information about the extensive weeding of a portion of the adult nonfiction collection (#bookgate) that precipitated public concern. If you examine the report, you will not that it states 161 adult nonfiction and 9231 adult fiction books were removed from the collection. In actuality <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2013/06/28/statistics-weed-lists" target="_blank">more than 9,000 nonfiction books were shipped to Better World Books</a>. I<br />
<br />
Many of the weeded books have been returned to the Library from Better World Books, and adult services librarians are now re-evaluating these materials. A large number of these previously weeded books will likely be returned to the collection, but it may be several weeks before more accurate collection figures are available.<br />
<br />
Director Lissak has provided some information about strategic planning in response to FOIA requests, but much of what she has returned is fairly minimal and consists primarily of documents recently made available on the Library's website. In the near future, we will compile documents from the FOIA requests and make them publicly available on this website.<br />
<br />
In the News-Gazette, you can read librarian <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/living/2013-07-21/longtime-library-leader-will-be-missed-staff-public.html" target="_blank">Amber Casten's tribute to recently retired head of adult services Anne Phillips</a> and a <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/2013-07-21/two-sides-transparency-%E2%80%94-public-bodies-and-public.html" target="_blank">thoughtful commentary on library governance and public oversight by Barbara Wysocki</a>.<br />
<br />
The next meeting of the Urbana Free Library's Board of Trustees is Tuesday, August 13. If you are a local resident, we hope you will attend. We have much to learn from the Board about plans for an interim director, how the public will be allowed to participate in strategic planning, and more. There are <a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/p/community-questions.html" target="_blank">many questions that remain unanswered too</a>. This blog will offer more information about the meeting closer to its occurrence.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-14568006022440609792013-07-09T23:10:00.003-05:002013-07-16T08:49:41.745-05:00Updates since the July 9 Trustee's Meeting(8:00 a.m., July 16)<br />
<br />
Thank you for letting us know your favorite aspects of Urbana Free Library. 87% of you named the 'fantastic selection of old and new books' as what you enjoy most, and 81% reported that the 'friendly staff and librarians' were tops for you. Many of you appreciate the AV selections and the magazines, and a smaller number of you enjoy the programming, computers, and space.<br />
<br />
Keep track of the full timeline of events here (comment welcomed): <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P5LS5DtPzTDvl9OoyzYfMzxOdUthhd4MrvXse9THmRM">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P5LS5DtPzTDvl9OoyzYfMzxOdUthhd4MrvXse9THmRM</a><br />
<br />
(10 a.m., July 15)<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>News-Gazette (editorial): <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2013-07-15/change-coming-library.html">http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2013-07-15/change-coming-library.html</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
(12 p.m., July 12)<br />
<strike><br /></strike>
Thank you for your input on the poll (now closed). 59% of voters want to "demand Trustees reopen the strategic planning process," 54% of voters want to "work to ensure that the Library doesn't create an digital / device divide by shifting too much of its collection to online, downloadable, and streaming items," and 48% want to "thank Director Lissak for her service."<br />
<strike><br /></strike>
If you still have ideas, please add them as comments to this post or by sending an e-mail to <a href="mailto:reclaimingourlibrary@gmail.com">reclaimingourlibrary@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
(9 a.m., July 12)<br />
<ul>
<li>News-Gazette: <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-12/negotiations-begin-library-director.html">http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-12/negotiations-begin-library-director.html</a></li>
</ul>
(10 p.m., July 11)<br />
<ul>
<li>WCIA TV: <a href="http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=509702">http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=509702</a> (Interview with Board of Trustees President Chris Scherer)</li>
</ul>
(9 a.m., July 10)<br />
Here's some of the news coverage of last night's meeting:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>WILL/Illinois Public Media: <a href="http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/urbana-library-board-announces-separation-agreement-with-executive-director">http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/urbana-library-board-announces-separation-agreement-with-executive-director</a></li>
<li>News-Gazette: <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-09/updated-urbana-library-seek-early-separation-director.html">http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-07-09/updated-urbana-library-seek-early-separation-director.html</a></li>
<li>Smile Politely: <a href="http://smilepolitely.com/culture/can_we_use_this_experience_to_make_our_library_more_beloved_than_ever/">http://smilepolitely.com/culture/can_we_use_this_experience_to_make_our_library_more_beloved_than_ever/</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
If you would like to view the full meeting, <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/35594977" target="_blank">please see the archived stream</a>.<br />
<br />
(11 p.m. July 9)<br />
<br />
More soon, but there were dozens of people who remained in the Library's auditorium, waiting for the Board to return from closed session. At around 10 p.m. the Board returned with the announcement that Director Lissak would be pursuing early separation; details will be forthcoming.<br />
<br />
Many issues remain on the table: grievance policy and strategic planning among them. We've got movement in the 'right' direction, but much work remains to be done.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-74406580837961990442013-07-09T11:15:00.000-05:002013-07-09T11:15:50.529-05:00Is This Strategic Plan 'Strategic' or a 'Plan'?In May 2013, the Urbana Free Library's Board of Trustees voted to accept the Library's Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2014 - 2016. Y<a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/05/Strategic%20Plan%20FY2014-FY2016%2C%20approved%202013-05-14.pdf" target="_blank">ou can read the full document here</a>.<br />
<br />
On pages 2 and 3, you can read about the process. Among the items absent from this description of process is any attempt at a community needs assessment. The only document that points to some attempt at a needs assessment is a<a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/07/UFL%20Patron%20Survey%202008_sm.pdf" target="_blank"> 5-year old patron survey</a>, which had a 30% response rate (<350 REGISTERED BORROWERS). Yes, there is a more recent survey of parking that the library conducted, but that doesn't really count as anything complete.<br />
<br />
In fact, the Director worked used a planning strategy that discouraged participants from considering the Library's history and traditions. The planning model even discouraged the use of focus groups and surveys, as "they are rarely visionary" (p. 2). <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/06/PLA%20Results%20Boot%20Camp.%20Aug%2021-25%2C%202012.pdf" target="_blank">Read more here</a>.<br />
<br />
Our Library's direction - <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/05/Strategic%20Plan%20FY2014-FY2016%2C%20approved%202013-05-14.pdf" target="_blank">the service priorities that omit lifelong learning</a> (p. 6) - were determined in large measure by an appointed panel of community representatives, an appointed Board of Trustees, and the Library's administrators. Library staff had limited roles. The community of Urbana - whether registered borrowers of the Library or those who have less formal or no connections to the Library - were disenfranchised.<br />
<br />
The strategic plan also omits action steps, a vital element in any plan. For instance, how will the Library achieve an increase in the circulation of adult materials? What must it do to see an increase in the use of meeting spaces?<br />
<br />
It includes generic objectives and evaluation targets, It only minimally addresses how evaluation will occur; for example, it fails to address who will do the evaluation or when evaluation will occur or how the evaluation will be used?<br />
<br />
The Urbana Free Library's strategic plan, as it currently exists, is neither strategic nor a plan. Consider instead the process and result from Seattle Public Library's most recent strategic plan: <a href="http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/strategic-planning">http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/strategic-planning</a> There are most likely imperfections in it as well, but as a whole, it comes infinitely closer to responsible and responsive planning and stewardship than the shallow, uninformed plan produced for Urbana Free Library.<br />
<br />
Why is the <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/07/2013-07-09%20Board%20memo.pdf" target="_blank">Director opposed to re-opening the strategic planning process, even to allow for public comment</a> (p. 3)? If this is a strong plan, it should withstand public scrutiny.<br />
<br />
Let's say the planning process started anew, using a better model. Perhaps it will result in the same service priorities. That's fine. At least we can be certain that the Library is moving in a direction that the community values and demands.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-15219817835174772152013-07-08T21:17:00.000-05:002013-07-08T21:17:04.870-05:00A Few Reasons You Should Care about #BOOKGATE Even If You're Not from UrbanaI had a moment (or two) this evening. I wanted to encapsulate in a few tweets why what's going on / wrong at Urbana Free Library matters to everyone. This brief list isn't intended to be comprehensive, but I hope it will provoke conversation.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Public libraries are public institutions intended for the public good. We must ensure they remain responsive to the public.</li>
<li>Public libraries have always had to respond to competing needs, but libraries must understand those needs first!</li>
<li>Public libraries must remain a bulwark against digital / device divide; streaming & downloadable content don't work for all (and aren't desirable for others).</li>
<li>False dichotomies (e.g. change vs tradition, analog vs digital, space vs materials) should not drive strategic planning.</li>
<li>Librarians & library staff serve the public. It's not about pay or glamor or recognition. Their expertise & service ethic matter. They should not be bullied or belittled. They should have a meaningful voice in planning and implementation of services.</li>
<li>Strategic planning which is rushed, is not driven by genuine needs, and fails to include stakeholder and community voices is neither strategic nor planned. </li>
<li>Public libraries should steward public resources for public good. That does not mean, however, they should be run like a business.</li>
</ol>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<b>I do not want to send my LIS students out into a world of cookie-cutter, corporatized public libraries. </b>This is my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WINDtlPXmmE" target="_blank">Howard Beale / Network</a> moment: I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
If you're mad as hell too, <a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/p/take-action.html" target="_blank">do something</a>. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-80387049741389888532013-07-07T09:02:00.001-05:002013-07-07T09:02:48.661-05:00Trustee Bill Brown speaks about the crisis at Urbana Free Library<div class="tr_bq">
In today's News-Gazette (Sunday, July 7), Trustee Bill Brown - the newest member of the Library's Board - <a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary/2013-07-07/guest-commentary-ufl-board-would-benefit-scrutiny.html" target="_blank">presents his thoughts on recent events and actions</a>.</div>
<br />
Here's are excerpts of Brown's comments:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The public comments at board meetings on June 11 and 19, as well as the city council meeting June 17, and the dedicated research and other materials provided by interested members of the public, will make it possible for the board to begin to address the many concerns library patrons have brought forward...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The library director recently put detailed statistics on the library website showing the sections that were weeded with this process. She also put board packets for previous meetings on the site along with the minutes that were already there. While this is a start to greater transparency, the board obviously would benefit from more public scrutiny. Not only was our adjournment late into the night on the 19th a violation of the Open Meetings Act, three of the first five meetings this year also adjourned after closing hours. If a member of the public wants to come to see the last five minutes of a meeting, they should be able to do that. Meeting rooms must remain open and meetings should be video recorded and archived...</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In all of this, I'd like to remind folks that our library is more than a building and books and media and meeting space. The library has achieved excellence and respect through the work of people — directors, trustees and employees. There is no point in trashing reputations, but it's perfectly acceptable to be professionally critical of those who can respond in public — the director and the board. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
There is no excuse for shifting blame to employees or criticizing them in public. One of the first priorities of the board should be establishing effective grievance procedures and protections to help alleviate tension in the workplace. </blockquote>
Thank you, Trustee Brown, for standing up against the status quo. We must discourage 'blamesplaining and voice our concerns. Let's put the public back in our public library.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-54038264387948324402013-07-06T20:24:00.001-05:002013-07-06T20:24:24.957-05:00Urbana Free Library Trustees Meeting, July 9
<br />
<div class="p1">
Will you be attending the next Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees meeting on July 9? Learn more & register your interest in attending:</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/222826227865428/">https://www.facebook.com/events/222826227865428/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-35220192762164978042013-07-06T17:18:00.001-05:002013-07-06T17:18:39.711-05:00Updates and ResourcesIn addition to the regular blog posts, please be sure to take a look at the pages (in the right-hand column):<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/p/in-news.html" target="_blank">In the News</a> - links to traditional and social media accounts of ongoing events at Urbana Free Library</li>
<li><a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/p/community-questions.html" target="_blank">Community Questions</a> - a list of questions asked by various individuals who attended the June 19 Trustees meeting</li>
<li><a href="http://reclaimingourlibrary.blogspot.com/p/take-action.html" target="_blank">Take Action</a> - a variety of ways to help ensure a healthy future for Urbana Free Library, its staff, and our community</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
In the next day, look for a FAQ (frequently asked questions) guide to events, actions, and policies.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-8351140597388907332013-07-05T21:00:00.001-05:002013-07-05T21:00:55.685-05:00The Director Responds to the Past Month's ControversiesPlease read the Director's report to the Board of Trustees in advance of next Tuesday's meeting: <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/07/2013-07-09%20Board%20memo.pdf">you can find it here</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's part of what Lissak said about the problematic Strategic Planning and process:
<br />
<blockquote>
"I would strongly discourage any rewrite of the Strategic Plan. We had an especially strong
community committee that was very representative of Urbana. The plan includes concrete
measures of our efforts and a method for the Board to evaluate and revise the plan annually" (p. 3)</blockquote>
And here's a selection from her comments on weeding:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The non-fiction weeding controversy surfaced mid-month. The controversy began with false allegations sent in a letter to City Council and Board, and the false statements then spread through social media" (p. 4)</blockquote>
If you find her response satisfactory, then consider your / our work done. But if you find yourself outraged—as many of us who have been working closely on this issue do—then I hope you will come to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/392099260899589/" target="_blank">Trustees meeting on Tuesday, July 9</a>, in the Library's Auditorium. It's scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-90713996067161577402013-07-05T12:26:00.001-05:002013-07-05T12:27:40.166-05:00Trustees Meeting!The next meeting of the Urbana Free Library's Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Library's ground floor auditorium. There has been some indication that the start time for the meeting might be moved to 6:30 p.m., so please check back here for the most current information.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in speaking at this meeting during the public comment portion, please note the following guidelines from the <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2012/10/I-A%20%20Bylaws%20of%20the%20Board%20of%20Trustees_12.pdf" target="_blank">Trustees' By-Laws</a>:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote>
<u>Designated comment period</u>
<br />
<blockquote>
Public comments are the first items addressed under Petitions and Communications in the agenda. The presiding chair may require persons wishing to speak to sign in before the start of the meeting and to provide their names, addresses, and topics to be discussed. Prior to speaking, each person must be recognized by the presiding chair and must state his or her name and address for the public record.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<br />
<u>Time limits</u><br />
Public comment is limited to no more than five minutes per person and to no more
than two hours per meeting, unless extended by consent of a majority vote of the
members present. The presiding chair shall monitor each speaker’s use of time and
shall notify the speaker when the time allotted has expired.
<br />
<u>Limits on group comments</u><br />
If the presiding chair recognizes that more than twenty persons desire to speak, he
or she may limit each speaker to comments of no more than three minutes. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Whenever any group of persons wishes to address the Board on the same topic, the
presiding chair may ask that a spokesperson be chosen from the group. If additional
matters are to be presented by other persons in the group, the presiding chair may
limit the number of such persons and may limit the presentation to information not
already presented by the group spokesperson.<br />
<br />
<u>Invited comments</u> Persons invited by the presiding chair to address the Board are subject to such time<br />
limits as the majority of the members present may prescribe.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060404728306202687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-76267418875294222522013-07-04T15:48:00.001-05:002013-07-04T15:48:11.713-05:00Consider showing your support for the librarians and staff!As a former librarian and current library school faculty member, I recognize how hard the librarians and staff at UFL work. I hope you'll consider showing your support for them by <a href="https://www.change.org/petitions/administration-of-urbana-free-library-ufl-recognize-that-we-stand-in-solidarity-with-the-librarians-and-staff-of-ufl" target="_blank">adding your name to this online petition</a>. More than the collections they manage, more than programming they offer, the librarians and the staff are the Library's true heart.<br />
<br />
Consider your signature a virtual 'hug' to each of them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540070858638385255.post-82166989183164681222013-07-04T14:38:00.000-05:002013-07-04T14:58:58.307-05:00Welcome!This blog is intended to serve as a clearinghouse for information as well as a space for collegial dialogue related to <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Urbana Free Library</a> (UFL / The Library). The goal for this blog is to support Urbana community members and other interested persons in advocating for a stronger, more responsive, inclusive Urbana Free Library for the immediate, mid, and long term.<br />
<br />
<b>Background Information</b><br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
In June 2013 the Library <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2013/06/28/statistics-weed-lists" target="_blank">removed 9600 adult nonfiction books</a> in only 4 days. Thousands of books about art, religion, home improvement and more were boxed up and sent to a vendor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/do_you_ever_read_any_of_the_books_you_weed/" target="_blank"> The director told staff to discard books quickly</a> – just by looking at lists instead of by using professional knowledge. <br />
<br />
According to reports,<a href="http://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/miscommunication_or_mismanagement/" target="_blank"> the director pressured and bullied Adult Services librarians</a> into discarding books that the public wants to keep in the library. <br />
<br />
Libraries regularly <a href="http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet15" target="_blank">“weed” books</a> that are outdated, in bad condition, or no longer relevant to the public, but it shouldn’t happen this way.<br />
<div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>What’s next to go? </b><br />
<br />
Led by an <a href="http://www.sandranelson.com/" target="_blank">outside consultant</a>, the Library created a<a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/article/2013/06/14/library-strategic-plan-services-fy-2014-2016" target="_blank"> strategic plan for big changes</a>. Some of these planned changes <a href="http://urbanafreelibrary.org/sites/default/files/page/attachments/2013/05/Strategic%20Plan%20FY2014-FY2016%2C%20approved%202013-05-14.pdf" target="_blank">have been made public</a>. Some have not been articulated publicly by the Administration, but have been described by various staff members. For example, there are plans to significantly reduce the magazine, CD and DVD collections. Some public spaces such as the 1st floor reading rooms may be repurposed.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>What's the bigger picture? </b><br />
<br />
People in the community are mostly unaware of these plans. Our voices have not been heard. We want these plans to be made public and a chance to get clear answers. <br />
<br />
The Library belongs to the public and the people of Urbana should help decide its future. <br />
<br />
<b>How has the Administration responded? </b><br />
<br />
Hundreds of Urbana citizens and library lovers from around the country have contacted the Director and the Board, to demand answers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/20818163-418/why-do-the-shelves-at-urbana-free-library-look-so-empty.html" target="_blank"> The Administration has blamed staff</a> in press interviews and has yet to answer our questions. <br />
<br />
The Board has said it will <a href="http://smilepolitely.com/splog/public_statement_and_directives_from_the_urbana_free_library_board/" target="_blank">open the Strategic Plan for comment</a>, but will our voices be heard? <br />
<br />
We need information, but staff who have come forward to talk have been threatened and have no protection from retaliation.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>How can I speak out? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Library Board meets Tuesday, July 9 at 7:30 pm in the library’s auditorium. We hope you’ll come and tell your friends about it. <br />
<br />
Contact information for the Board is here: <a href="http://bit.ly/1a2tZi9">http://bit.ly/1a2tZi9</a> <br />
<br />
Contact the Director at <a href="mailto:dlissak@tufl.info">dlissak@tufl.info</a> or 217-367-4057<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0