American LibrariesSearch American Libraries  |
||
Site NavigationLeft Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
|
||
E-mail Insult Jeopardizes Philadelphia Administrator’s JobAn errant e-mail message has landed the associate director of the Free Library of Philadelphia in hot water. It began several weeks ago when Suzin Rigsby, manager of the library’s Wyoming branch, e-mailed FLP President Elliot Shelkrot to suggest that city council members Michael Nutter and Frank DiCicco be honored at the branch’s 75th-anniversary celebration October 29 for their successful efforts to ward off service cuts proposed by the city.Rigsby’s message had been copied to Associate Director Kevin Vaughan, who e-mailed Shelkrot about Rigsby: “Evil comes in many forms—this is surely one of them. A tar baby if ever there was one. She is wicked to the core.” However, Vaughan accidentally sent his message to Rigsby, the Philadelphia Daily News reported October 28. The following day, Vaughan sent Rigsby an apology that stated he had “overreacted to what I perceived as an attempt to embarrass Elliot.” Rigsby had been a strong opponent of the proposed service cuts, testifying in support of a successful lawsuit by library unions seeking to block the branch cutbacks. District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the union representing the city’s librarians, issued a statement calling for Vaughan to be removed from a supervisory role over union members. “This derogatory e-mail illustrates the ongoing pattern of intimidation and retaliation that exists at the Free Library,” said Mike Walsh, president of AFSCME Local 2186. “Suzin Rigsby testified at city council hearings for the restoration of branch hours and full staffing at the multicultural Wyoming Branch Library. . . . As a result of her activism, management retaliated against her.” “The mistakenly sent e-mail was wrong,” FPL Communication Director Sandra Horrocks told American Libraries. “The language was totally inappropriate. We won’t tolerate that kind of language, and appropriate action will be taken.” Horrocks explained she was unable to comment more specifically on what form that action might take since the issue was a personnel matter. Posted October 28, 2005. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
