Library morale sinking, board told
By derek P. Jensen

For the second consecutive public meeting, Salt Lake City Public Library Director Beth Elder was assailed by employees, who argued her methods are tyrannical, managers are “miserable” and that morale is plummeting.

“That might be the most poisonous thing we’re seeing,” 15-year associate librarian Mike Nordenstrom told a rapt Library Board on Thursday in a Main Library conference room that echoed with applause and hoots after each successive speaker.

“Why doesn’t the board investigate reports of intimidation and retaliation?” asked Candy Markle, a library assistant at the Sprague branch. “Given the lack of employee confidence in Ms. Elder, as well as the current public-relations crisis over her decisions, how is the board going to successfully sell the public on a tax increase this year for the new branches? Has she been a successful leader? Has the reputation of the library improved under her supervision?”

Board members sat mostly silent during the onslaught, while Elder fidgeted in her chair. Multiple speakers also rattled off a list of longtime employees who recently retired or resigned from the public resource hub that won the 2006 Library of the Year award.

“What’s going on?” asked Salt Lake City resident Brett Johnson, arguing the turnover takes a toll on productivity and the public pocketbook. “The taxpayers cannot afford to allow this to continue.”

Elder never directly engaged her accusers, instead delivering budget and future branch location updates.

“Beth continues to remain committed to solving issues and the only way to advance the library and serve the community well is to have the board, the library leadership and the staff working in concert,” said library spokeswoman Julianne Hancock. “The plans that were proposed to the board today as well as the preliminary 2011 and 2012 budget reflect exactly that.”

Dissension stems from a January staff shuffle – part of Elder’s new “strategic plan” – where veteran employees were forced to resign then reapply for their positions. Some retired, others were transferred to new branches, and new faces were added in key roles. Elder insists the move better aligns individual talents to jobs, though scores of employees say it has bred confusion and fear over job security.

Since the controversy erupted late last year, staffers cast a vote of no confidence in Elder and one board member quit in protest.

Mayor Ralph Becker and the City Council passed a joint resolution supporting Elder and the board earlier this year. Becker’s spokesman reiterated the mayor’s support for the board Thursday. Next month, the board must vote on whether to renew Elder’s contract.

“It cannot go on another year,” associate librarian Chlarson Seeley said about Elder’s tenure. “We’re all afraid. We’re all terrified. I filed a grievance and they shelved it.”

“It’s not just that we have a few people who are unhappy,” Nordenstrom added. “What we are faced with now as an organization may take years to recover from.”

During last month’s board meeting, three employees – for the first time – openly criticized the director and her direction. One, children’s section librarian Paul Musser, said he was since asked to “take ownership” of his critical comments by one of Elder’s deputies. “I was strongly cautioned by a member of the executive leadership team that if I spoke up again at a board meeting, I would be jeopardizing my job,” Musser said in an interview Thursday.

Librarian Sean Tibbitts called the inability to address the problems “shameful,” while another 15-year veteran said the restructuring was done “in a very hostile, very punitive way.”

“People whose courage I admire are afraid to speak,” librarian Josh Hanagarne told the board. “It means something. I implore you to ask them.”

Before the crowd dispersed, several people pressed the board to increase its transparency, including updating meeting minutes more quickly and posting comments like Thursdays on their website.

“I would encourage you not to continue in covering this material up,” said capital resident Clotilde Houchon. “These comments are public information. You may not keep that quiet.”

In response, board president Hugh Gillilan – a former ACLU chapter head – said the board will take it under consideration.

“I will not guarantee that at this point.”

We are being STRONGLY encouraged by county higher-ups to contact the Internal Audit dep via fraud reporting. If you haven’t seen it, here’s the text from the site. They also consider this kind of behavior to be a reportable offense (I’ve seen 1-8 from M,N,P):

“Lying, cheating and stealing are always unethical behaviors. However, the following behaviors are also unethical:
1) Misrepresenting or withholding information.
2) Pressuring another employee to act unethically.
3) Failing to accept responsibility for your actions by blaming others.
4) Failing to honestly honor agreements or promises.
5) Subverting group decisions through action or inaction.
6) Feigning lack of memory or understanding to avoid following group decisions.
7) Using a position of authority in an unfairly coercive manner.
Failing to follow internal procedures or rules in order to benefit you.
9) Harming public authority or trust.
10) Engaging in on-duty or off-duty conduct which harms the reputation or integrity of the County”

Reporting procedures concerning Fraud/Abuse:

Concerns are submitted one of five ways
In person: Internal Audit is situated in the Chesterfield County complex. The physical address is 10021 Iron Bridge Road and is located in the two-story brick building located at the corner of Iron Bridge Road and Wagner Way, across from Magnolia Grange. Regular operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
By phone: (804) 318-8000 The Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline at (804) 318-8000, may be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Voicemail will be activated on holidays, weekends, and when staff is unavailable to answer the calls. Callers may remain anonymous. Caller ID and call back features have been disabled to maintain confidentiality.
By FAX: Complete and print our Reporting Form Fax#: (804) 768-9346. Sending personal information by fax and e-mail is not a confidential or secure means of transmission. It is recommended you return your request by regular mail.
By Mail: Complete and print our Reporting Form Address: Internal Audit, PO Box 40, Chesterfield, VA 23832
Online: Complete and submit the Secure Online Reporting Form.
If you want to remain anonymous, please call the confidential/anonymous hotline at (804) 318-8000 two weeks after the initial report to enable us to gather more facts. You may refer to the date of your original report to preserve your anonymity.

Maybe we’ll even get a really tacky pin!

How are you dealing with the new hours?

The Thursday closing?

Have you memorized the ‘talking points’ yet?

Can you say them with straight face?

What will the cost be when this blows up in their face, and they have to hire new employees and train them from scratch, or pay more for applicants with the same experience as those they are letting go?

Why isn’t anyone higher up noticing how ridiculously this is being handled?

Because Big Boss is trying to slip his firings in with the budget crisis.

Richmond is laying off 11 people – total.   TOTAL

Who doesn’t like the library system?

Apparently, those in charge.