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Former Idaho Falls Director Speaks Out about ChargesNancy Donahoo has spoken out about the reasons she resigned her position as director of the Idaho Falls (Idaho) Public Library in January. Donahoo told American Libraries that she left in order to be with her family in Pocatello and not as a result of allegations from newly elected city council member Larry Lyon that she misused funds and illegally hired a 13-year-old boy to work in the library. She said that Lyon’s accusations were “a vendetta attempt for over a year aimed not only towards me but at the library board for daring to negotiate a reasonable contract with Bonneville County for provision of library services.” Donahoo told AL that she is consulting with an attorney on whether to sue Lyons for violating the city’s code of ethics by publicizing a memo about a city investigation into the charges. “I’m not interested in any money,” she said. “I’m interested in the fact that here’s a man that violated the city’s own code for political purposes without considering the ramifications . . . to the responsibility he holds.” In a January 17 interview on NBC-affiliate KPVI, Donahoo had emphasized that all criminal allegations against her had been dropped and that Lyon’s charges amounted to “simply looking for scapegoats in government that are not necessarily there.” The commingling of funds stemmed from her purchasing books with her own money for the library collection and then reimbursing herself, Donahoo explained. As to charges of violating child-labor laws, Donahoo said that she personally paid a Spanish-speaking 13-year-old for reading to other Spanish-speaking children. She added that she thought of the youngster, who had been ejected from the library on several occasions for inappropriate behavior, as a role model for the Idaho Migrant Council, a community vocational organization for Hispanic families. “I was trying to do this kid a favor by finding some incentive for him to better himself,” Donahoo told AL, “and yet I’m condemned for doing it even though he was never put on payroll and never paid with city funds.” Posted March 5, 2004. |
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