Fairfax County to audit "Friends of the Library" in counter-attack on criticisms of FCPL collection, budget & staff cuts.

 

The FCFCA did NOT ask for the Friends of the Library to be audited nor, for that matter, the Library Foundation.  Here is the FCFCA resolution as approved on August 14, 2014:

Nowhere in that resolution does FCFCA even mention the Friends of the Library. 

The decision by the Board to audit the Friends of the Library, reportedly only opposed by Supervisors Smyth and Hudgins, is an attack on perceived opponents of the Board's dismantling of the County's public library system.   It is unwarranted, mean spirited, and a blatant abuse of power.

County forcing closure of part of Sherwood Regional Library

To:   Friends Groups at Fairfax County libraries

From:  Friends of Sherwood Regional Library

Re: Sherwood Regional Library, second floor changes

We have just been informed of a proposed action at the Sherwood Regional Library that will adversely affect the community.    

Starting in January the library will be closing its second floor, except for limited hours on Sunday through Thursday (1 to 5 PM). The second floor conference rooms will be permanently closed.  This adversely affects the general community but especially the neighborhood populations who use the computer lab and other resources on the second floor.  It also adversely affects the income that the Friends of Sherwood Library get from their ongoing book sale, the profits from which directly support the library.  

In addition, it  limits seniors from visiting the offices of Mt Vernon at Home, the increasingly important non-profit that provides ways and means to seniors to remain in their homes as they age.

Library management has framed this action as the result of a new security issue related to staffing cuts, but we are prepared to work with them to find ways to preserve access.

Furthermore, this proposed action has been initiated without the opportunity for public input.

We understand that there are resource limitations that the library must consider but believe there are ways and means to ensure that these critical services/functions are maintained for the community.

As you know, the library serves a diverse community including low income and minority customers, as well as numerous non profit groups, civic groups, churches, and educational institutions who regularly use the library conference rooms (all of which are on the second floor) for their meetings.  

These groups include among others,  MVAAC, local neighborhood associations, home school and preschool groups, athletic associations, study groups, ESL learning activities, and Girl and Boy Scout groups.

We would be glad to provide additional information but are bringing this to your attention now in hopes that you can help resolve this unfortunate situation before it becomes a reality.  Public input is vital. Please inform your community leaders and keep alert for similar unilateral actions at your libraries. 

Sincerely,

Nora Gyuk

President of the Friends of Sherwood Library

Taking Action on Ethics at Reston Association--December 16 Meeting, John Lovaas, Reston Patch, December 7, 2014

Troubling conflict of interest questions at lead Board member Rachel Muir to propose a simple solution. Will the Board allow transparency?

Over the years, the Reston Association Board has faced questions about ethics. Going back maybe 10 years, I remember RA members raising questions about the big and expensive contractual arrangement for stream restoration.

More recently, the controversial Lake Anne land swap giving an acre common area forest to a private group and, to a lesser extent, the referendum on the air-conditioning monopoly, RELAC, at Lake Anne have led to greater concerns about possible conflicts of interest among RA Board members.

In the last few weeks, the Reston Citizens Association reviewed conflict of interest statements submitted by current RA Board members and found several were incomplete, lacking information about financial interests and activities which could result in conflicts of interest. It turns out no one at the Association actually reviews conflict of interest information to assure completeness, for example. . . .

Click here to read the rest of this Patch article. 

The Decade-long Deterioration of the Fairfax County Public Library System