The board was presented with a petition containing 600 signatures from library workers, former librarians, and patrons protesting selection practices exemplified by the purchase of 30 DVDs of the film Jackass 2, the Sacramento Bee reported May 25. Speakers also voiced concerns over library security and questioned administrators’ rejection of $50,000 worth of children’s and teen books donated by publishers each year since 2004.
“We tend to be people who don’t rock the boat,” said Dennis Blegen, a librarian at the Southgate Library. “In 25 years I have never seen a revolt of library workers—until now.”
Deputy Director Rick Teichert defended library policies, noting that some of the speakers’ concerns were already under discussion by administrators. “Many issues are things we have on the radar screen and are beginning to work on,” he said.
Earlier, library board Chair Roger Dickinson had said the concerns came from a minority of librarians who are resisting efforts to modernize. “The idea of the library as a cloistered hall where everyone whispers is giving way to a place where people go read books, have conversations, and increasingly want audiovisual materials,” he said in the May 23 Bee. “I think this is all part and parcel of what the public wants.”
At the meeting, Dickinson said that while the library board couldn’t act on the issues raised because they were not on the agenda, the panel hopes to hear responses from library administrators at its next meeting on June 18. “We know you are here because you care about these issues, and we will certainly examine them seriously and respond to your concerns,” he pledged.
Posted May 25, 2007.