Manager: The library is safe though not without problems.
Posted: March 7, 2011 Filed under: Politics 7 Comments »
Allow me to weigh in and set the record straight. First and foremost, there was no retaliation. No one was reprimanded and no one was told to not speak to the paper. Unfortunately, the newspaper story was written in this manner to sensationalize a situation and respond to the complaints of a few employees. Three of the four employees that appeared before the City Council were addressed by the Director in an informal manner advising them that their issues were being looked at but that in the future complaints would be better handled in the ordinary chain of command. I certainly think that the Director should be able to converse with her employees on a better procedure for addressing issues.
Virtually left out of the story is the fact that a number of employees refute the claim that the library is unsafe. In fact, the reporter of the story was provided a letter signed by eight of the library employees citing their objection to the characterizations being made and opposing some of the actions recommended by the smaller group.
The story also barely notes that we set up an employee group to look at some of the issues that have been raised and some that may have not been raised. The group was to receive input, look into other libraries and then come back with some ideas. The group has broad membership including a couple that have spoken on the issue in the past. Unfortunately, about a week ago I started getting a complaint from one library assistant that she wasn’t on the group. That seems to be when this new barrage occurred.
The reality is that the library is safe though not without problems. To address the issues we have put in new policies, installed cameras, at the employees request hired a security guard, etc. And, we are always looking to make further improvements if they are doable and make sense within the context of keeping the public library accessible to all of our citizens. We can’t give every member of the staff the ability to kick people out of the library. Experience has shown us that many innocent, though possibly out of the mainstream, people would find themselves out of the library. Nor can we expect that teenagers use the library in total silence as some staff have demanded. We’ve also had a problem with some staff people being a bit too confrontational in the way they treat some citizens.
We can’t tolerate violence, vandalism or inappropriate behavior. The issue is balance and determining where the line is appropriately drawn.
Bernie Lynch
Unfortunately, the newspaper story was written in this manner to sensationalize a situation and respond to the complaints of a few employee?
I still think the “Director” should have known and handled this before 6 employees spoke out. I think minimizing the fact they are “only a few” is unfair to those 6.Being followed to your car and be threatened to be beat up and not have the Management say they will not be tolerated is probably what they are looking to hear not “Nor can we expect that teenagers use the library in total silence as some staff have demanded. We’ve also had a problem with some staff people being a bit too confrontational in the way they treat some citizens.”…I have been to the library I can tell you the librarians are not the aggressors. I think the comments here are aggressive towards the employees
Library may be safe.. but those sidewalks on Central Street need some work.
I fuly believe that there was retaliation and threats against the Library Assistants. I do not believe that they would have come forward in such a manner if other attempts to establish a dialogue had not failed. I believe that the Manager has never made an attempt to hear their side of th story. As for the eight library employees that “support” the Director- the Manager conveniently left out the fact that they are supervisors and some of them are probably part of the problem. The people who use the library should be expected to behave in a reasonable manner – to not threaten the staff and to respect the building. ALL level 3 sex offenders should be banned from the building. Failing to do so endangers our children and grandnchildren.
Looks like damage control.
Anyone out there watch the Council meeting last night? Lynch mislead the Council on at least 3 things mentioned in my previous post when he gave his little summation about the situation. And the security guards are a joke, They cannot act on their own. The Library Assitanmts have to call a supervisor to call the guards if there is a problem. And I have a feeling the police walk thrus are a joke as well – not sure that is their fault. I have a scanner and they are not in the building long enough to cover every floor and the stacks as well. .
Agree with you on the security guards. They are useless, and Bud’s call for letting We pay them even more is a shear waste, and absurd. There is only so much a security guard is even legally allowed to do.
What I am failing to see hear, however, is what EXACTLY the problem is. Is it the kids who raid the place after school gets out? Is it the pervs who go in to do God only knows what? It is a combination of a lot of issues?
In regards to the kids, they have every right to be there, just as anyone who pays taxes has the right to be there. Who is the city to tell people who can and can’t go to the library?
A good option I can see here is get rif of the computers! It is supposed to be a library, not a computer lab. It would be a shae to actually have to go that far, but trust me, take out the computers, and kids WILL stop going there everyday! Does anyone really believe teens are going there to read? Give me a break. They are using the library for thier “facebok” time. Take away the computers and you might actually inspire the smart ones to go out and get a job to buy a computer on thier own!
Bud and Rita, like on most issues, are calling for a quick rush of judgement and are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Thankfully, one of them will be out of the council soon, and good riddance.
Today in the Lowell Sun
LOWELL — A suspect in an assault yesterday afternoon fled with his girlfriend toward Pollard Memorial Library, where the woman allegedly discarded a black BB handgun in the book stacks.
Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_17580708#ixzz1GCTKGiHM