Jersey City Board Ignores Protests,
Votes to Privatize
Despite strong objections from library staff and the city council, the Jersey City (N.J.) Free Public Library System board of trustees voted July 14 to turn over the library's management to Library Systems and Services, Incorporated. The contract "for the management, operation, and maintenance" of the library through June 30, 2001, was not made public prior to the board's meeting.
The Jersey Journal reported July 15 that the action was protested by a series of speakers and by several city council members. Six members of the council presented a letter to the board asking it not to award the contract and to halt discussions with LSSI.
Although he expressed surprise at the council's opposition to the plan, Library Board President Ervin Haynes said he saw no reason for further delay, asserting that the contract did not need council's approval. After the vote, the board made a quick exit without comment, to a chant of "Recall" from the crowd.
Posted July 20, 1998.
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