October 29, 2013
Dear members of the
Evaluation and Communication Committee:
On behalf of the
dedicated employees of Fairfax County -- librarians, engineers, deputy
sheriffs, mental health professionals and more -- we are writing to share our
perspective on the recent round of public forums to discuss the future of our
libraries. As you know, these forums were intended to elicit public and
employee comment on library reforms, after the library board voted unanimously
to suspend the "beta plan." These forums mark an important first step
in the effort to engage the community in strengthening our libraries for
generations to come.
As you prepare your draft report for the full
library board, we hope that report will include the following key findings from
the public forums:
(1) The "Library Customer Service
Specialist (LCSS)" job class must be abolished. The LCSS position disregards the
rigorous education and experience that professional and paraprofessional
librarians bring to their job, and it disregards the essential and critical role of circulation
staff in maintaining excellence in our libraries. This makes it harder
for Fairfax County to recruit and retain the best and the brightest.
(2) There is deep and overwhelming community
support for strengthening our libraries; NOT for cutting library services or
jobs. As you have heard from nearly every speaker at
every one of the public meetings, there is overwhelming support from local
residents, families and small business owners for maintaining and strengthening
our excellent library system.
(3) Youth services departments, with librarians and
assistants, are needed at every branch to provide educational support and
resources to the community. Concerned residents at every public meeting
have spoken out about the need to retain MLS-degreed youth services librarians
in every branch to provide reader's advisory and homework research help to
children. Local families will suffer if youth services librarians are cut.
County residents expect and deserve strong youth services departments that
focus on all the needs of the youngest library patrons, and which support our
local education system.
(4) We need much more public engagement on a broad
scale. Despite the
overwhelming support for libraries at the public hearings, we believe that the
process so far has failed to engage sufficient numbers of the general public.
The forums were organized quickly, and we applaud the committee for their effort.
However, there was insufficient advance notice or communication, with most
residents unaware that any changes are being proposed to their beloved
libraries. We believe that deeper and broader engagement will result in better
outcomes.
(5) Each library should reflect the needs of
the community it serves. The proposed
"beta plan" contained both negative and positive reforms. However, we
reject the "one size fits all" approach. We believe that each library
should reflect the needs of the community it serves. As such, some elements of
the beta plan may be well implemented in certain libraries (such as an
adequately staffed single-service desk at a small library, and
increasing promotional opportunities for all staff), but not others.
We thank each of you for your time, effort and
commitment to our wonderful public libraries.
We know that you feel as we do: that our
libraries and librarians foster an unparalleled love of learning and sense of
community, which helps move our local economy forward. We look forward to
continuing to work with you to ensure that Fairfax County maintains its
wonderful library system for generations to come.
Sincerely,
David Broder
SEIU Virginia 512
Jennifer McCullough
Fairfax County Public Library Employee
Association
Paula Woodrum
Fairfax County Government Employees Union,
SEIU Virginia 512
cc: Fairfax County Public Library Board of
Trustees, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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