Citing conflicts with the library board, Vickie Chiappetti has resigned as director of the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-Thiensville, Wisconsin, nine months after she took the position.
Chiappetti told American Libraries that “the behavior of the board is way out of line,” saying their goals and objectives kept changing. During her brief tenure, the library has added Internet access, expanded hours, set up a local area network, written a 120-page collection-development plan, and hired new reference and children’s librarians. However, the board then added new demands, refusing Chiappetti’s request for “breathing time” to allow the staff to adjust to the technological and other changes.
Staff morale has plummeted, with eight resignations since January. All 18 staff members signed a letter asking the board to improve the personnel problems.
Chiappetti’s predecessor, Alice Sedgwick, resigned in August 1998 following a series of management disputes with the board.
Although Chiappetti got two job offers from other libraries, she has accepted a private-sector position as a Web site designer.
Posted October 18, 1999.