Culver Library Woes
Starting with a disclaimer on this. I’m not taking sides on any of the “I’m with Esmie” debacle, because I don’t know the facts of the matter. That said, I work with three other libraries and I’m friends with 4 other librarians. I thought some of their comments were worth sharing:
- All of them have been amazed by the community support for Mrs. Rodgers. The number of names on the petition as a percentage of residents was staggering to them.
- All of them were dismayed by how the Library Board handled the situation.
- Two of them said, “Maybe our library should hire her!”
- One of them told me about attending a library symposium in Wichita, Kansas. When people found out she was from Indiana, she was asked, “What’s going on with the Culver Library!?”
- Three of them were shocked by the resignations.
- Three of them were concerned by the rehiring of Mrs. Rodgers before the hiring of a new director.
- Two of them express concern for the library’s director search due to the notoriety of the situation.
- Two of them noted that there are still “I’m with Esmie” signs around Culver after her rehiring. They said that those signs would be intimidating to anyone interviewing for the director’s position.
- Three of them said that at this point, they should just make Mrs. Rodgers the director.
I’m probably writing this a bit late. I don’t know the current status of the Library Director search, but my impression is it will be a challenge to fill the position. I’m not throwing shade on anyone involved, just noting that the eyes of the library world are on us, and in not the best light.
2 Responses to Culver Library Woes
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By Martin Oosterbaan December 22, 2023 - 8:25 pm
Did any of them say — or did the possibility occur to you — that the reconstituted CUTPL board might actually know what it’s doing? This is a disappointing post. The staff and the board deserve better.
By Kevin Berger December 29, 2023 - 11:03 am
I apologize for the slow acknowledgement and response. Busy times!
I always have the utmost respect for volunteers on boards and cut them a lot of slack. Even when I don’t agree with their decisions, I assume they’re doing their best. Most of them are volunteering for altruistic reasons and no longer need to pad a resume. As I ended the post, I meant to throw no shade on anyone involved. I don’t know all the machinations that started this nor all the machinations going on to correct it. Employee issues are tough for any entity, with the need for privacy and the myriad of regulations that apply.
My point with the post was to share what I had been told from outside perspectives in the Library community. This has become a regional, if not national, discussion in that community. Unfortunately, the new board’s plans to make things better have not been shared as broadly as the original story was. Again, I understand those limitations, but they can be an issue. Then there are the signs that remain around town, which don’t help the library put this issue to bed.
The things I share about the community are mostly commentary and personal perspectives. While I am involved and pay attention more than average, I am rarely privy to what’s going on behind the scenes. In those rare instances where those involved might read what I’ve written, I hope it helps them with a measured, outside perspective. If the thought is, “He should know we have that handled.”, maybe that’s an indication that others don’t know or understand either. Or they just determine that, once again, I’m full of shit and they move on… I fully acknowledge that I’m mainly talking to myself here and what I write isn’t going to change my little corner of the world.
Best!
Kevin