#1 2009-07-08 08:31:34
Ragman has confirmed that Marcia Griswald has been appointed Interm Library Director.
This is bullshit.
I don't know Griswald. What I hear about her COA work thus far is not good. But that's besides the point, good or bad, why is someone with ZERO library experience being named the head of the library.
The job is advertised as requiring a Master's in Library Science , 5 years of experience in library administration, and certification by the Board of Library Commissioners. But we'll just hand it over to the person that runs the senior bingo games?
There are plenty of people in this town with library experience that could have stepped in. What about employees at the library? What about librarians in the school system?
They wanted to put a lackey in charge of the place. That's all this is.
But, that's not even the worst part.
We have one of the best and widely respected libraries in the state. Chronicle just did a piece on it, and its considered one of the best things we have in this town.
So, you'd think that librarians from all over would be clamoring at a shot to run it, wouldn't you?
Guess how many people have applied for it so far?
Three.
Let me repeat that - 3.
A chance to earn in the 60,000 - 76,000 range and run a library considered to be one of the state's best, and ONLY THREE PEOPLE expressed an interest.
It confirms what I figured. The statewide library community is a small one. They talk. They follow library-related news. And no library administrator with options is going to come down and be the BOS' whipping bitch.
To ruin the library to the point where nobody is applying for the job. Pathetic. Just completely pathetic.
The BOS and the Ragman should be popping champagne today. They got what they always wanted.
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#2 2009-07-08 08:49:15
Is Marcia up for Chief as well?
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#3 2009-07-08 09:32:13
With libraries across the state in dire financial straits and laying off highly qualified staff, there has to be some reason why any salaried position doesn't have librarians lining up to apply.
Even librarians who haven't yet held an administrative position may be interested in taking on the challenge of moving into the job. Many librarians have ability and interest in moving into management. I'd put prefer prior library administrative experience into the job requirement to allow flexibility.
All MLS programs included courses in management:
This is from the University of Indiana:
Apply Management and Leadership Skills
Understand a wide range of organizational structures and management and leadership styles; demonstrate positive attitudes and constructive actions which characterize innovative leadership.
Recognize the value of collaborative planning and project management.
Apply the interpersonal and organizational skills necessary to manage and evaluate projects and personnel successfully.
Work effectively within and across a variety of organizational structures
Communicate an organization's values and contributions, and identify sources that will support the organization's activities.
Last edited by urneighbor (2009-07-08 09:40:52)
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#4 2009-07-08 11:40:09
Just read in the Courier that the advertisement for the library director position has closed. It has closed, and a whopping 3 count 'em 3 people applied for it. As urneigbor points out, the economy is tough, many librarians are looking for jobs, and you combine that with the fact that our library is considered to be among the best in the state, we should be raking in the applications.
People in the library field have read about the BOS and what they've been doing and they are steering clear.
Only 3 applications for this job is all the proof you need of this BOS' pathetic leadership.
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#5 2009-07-08 13:00:42
sANQIUIST has said in the rag that the library commisioners has said that as long as someone in the library has as mls degree then they could have an intrim library director up to 3 years. i know this is a lie. i know for a fact that no present employee i on the wareham librry staff has a mls degree. and nor does the council on ageing director. the library needs help is marcia going t work at 2 jobs. this library can not retain there library certification with out a library director haveing an mls. or an mls degree at the library. this is totaly about control pure and simple. and i think the freinds of the library should challenge this. and with this thinking will marcia as commensense said will she be the police chief or will it be elien hinckly .
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#6 2009-07-08 13:04:47
i am sure there is a list that the libray board of comisioners could recomend someone for a temporary director s job they dont give a rats ass about the wareham free library.
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#7 2009-07-08 17:39:34
Not to preach, but, again another example of changes in the Charter that have screwed up the Town. The Wareham Free Library should be PRIVATELY funded with a stipend from the Town. That's why, many years ago, the Spinneys' gave so much money to mainatin and improve the Library. The Spinneys 'certainly never thought that the Library would be a part of Town government.
With the net, the web, etc.,etc, who goes to the Library now? Mosty folks who are elderly and don't use computers, or if computers are available at the Library, the folks who don't own computers but want to utilize the services of the web.
I suggest it's time for the Town to get out of the Library business.
Last edited by danoconnell (2009-07-08 18:12:33)
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#8 2009-07-08 20:05:49
Wow Dano, who goes to the library? How about parents researching their child's medical issues, or those of us whose parents are elderly and get diagnosed with something we have never heard of. Ever heard of a college student, lots of them use the library too. Then there are those young moms with kids at storytime looking to get out and make new friends. while they teach their kids to love reading Don't forget the library also houses historical stuff too and people who are researching their geneology tend to go where, to a LIBRARY.
Oh, if if you happen to be one of the unlucky kids who graduated from Wareham High before you learned to read then they have a literacy program. If you need computer access, for whatever reason, it's there. Struggling with math, how about a tutor at the library?
Personally I would be happy to support a private library so long as I could turn Jane away at the door and Brenda's kids too. I am not a philanthropist, if I am paying for it then I want to be sure that those who destroyed it and their heirs NEVER have the benefit of it again.
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#9 2009-07-08 20:42:14
You answered my question...researching all that you mentioned is done how? By paper or computer?
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#10 2009-07-09 07:11:38
Dan,
I don't know if you frequented a library when you were younger, and have followed their evolution by visiting them periodically over the past 20-30 years. While much has changed, and they have become after school babysitters and places where those who can't afford computers come to get online, they still are the only brick and mortar houses of knowledge and learning (aside from schools) in the community.
Where else can someone spend an hour or an afternoon in a setting like a library, whether they want to use a computer or read a magazine or book offline on real paper.
Where else can they walk the stakes and have the physical experience Google tries to mimic by the "I feel lucky" choice when you search a subject? How many times have you scanned the titles in the stacks and have a book figuratively jump out at you and say "read me"?
Let's not forget what librarians, the ultimate "book people" do.
They are always there to answer questions about a wide range of subject.
The can suggest books you might be interested in based on your interests.
They can help you with research.
They can give you advice on preparing a resume and conducting a job search.
Behind the scenes they order and display books they think members of the community will be interested in.
They can show you how to use the Internet and how to print out material you find online.
For those who can't afford to buy books and even DVDs, or simply don't want to, they offer a network service of interlibrary loan with tens of thousands of titles.
There are still people who find spending time at a library in a unique atmosphere of respect and appreciation for knowledge and learning, for whatever reason, personally enriching. Even though they may not interacted with staff or other patrons they find being at a place where everyone (except rowdy teenagers) is there for the same reason they are.
Last edited by urneighbor (2009-07-09 07:16:31)
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#11 2009-07-09 07:39:02
I am certainly not against Libraries. I am against a Town being in the Library business. Libraries should be privately funded with help from local government.
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#12 2009-07-10 07:29:21
Dan,
It would take to much time to give you the long history and the rationale for having public libraries. You seem like a very thoughtful man and I am dismayed that you don't already know this, and seem to be turning the pubic library issue into a political one. Perhaps you are a hard core Republican who has a knee jerk reaction to using public funds for anything.
To save ME time I just refer you to Wikipedia (link) along with one quote from Wiki:
"Public libraries exist in most nations of the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries, or other special libraries in that their mandate is to serve the public's information needs generally (rather than serve a particular school, institution, or research population), as well as offering materials for general entertainment and leisure purposes. Public libraries typically are lending libraries, allowing users to take books and other materials off the premises temporarily; they also have non-circulating reference collections. Public libraries typically focus on popular materials such as popular fiction and movies, as well as educational and nonfiction materials of interest to the general public; computer and internet access is also often offered."
I'd like to think this piques your interest enough to read this expansion on the Wikipedia article.
Last edited by urneighbor (2009-07-10 07:34:17)
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