Read on Twitter
1. I am deeply troubled by what's happening with the Birmingham Public Library @BPL, a system of 19 branches and the hub of Jefferson County Library Cooperative @JeffCoLibAL.
It faces a morale crisis and deep cuts in Mayor Woodfin's proposed budget. A thread. #alpolitics #bham
It faces a morale crisis and deep cuts in Mayor Woodfin's proposed budget. A thread. #alpolitics #bham
2. I am especially concerned about poor leadership and mismanagement at the library, coupled with a lack of transparency plus a lack of curiosity about the library's inner workings from the Birmingham city council @citycouncilbham, the media and the general public.
3. Growing up with libraries across Birmingham has given me a lasting appreciation and a well-fed curiosity.
I still remember marveling at the Birmingham Central Library when it opened in 1984 downtown with its grand atrium and floor and floors of books!
I still remember marveling at the Birmingham Central Library when it opened in 1984 downtown with its grand atrium and floor and floors of books!
4. To this day, I still wander through the stacks, borrow books and movies and CDs, sit at tables writing and reading, and show it off to others.
5. Having worked with BPL in the past and having talked with staffers over the years, I've encountered despair and disgruntlement among librarians.
Most often, they cited leadership at the top as responsible for declining morale and bad working conditions.
Most often, they cited leadership at the top as responsible for declining morale and bad working conditions.
6. And those working conditions ... Just at the central branch, I know the AC has gone out (forcing staff and patrons to sweat it out or to close the building temporarily), water leaks onto the stacks, the bathrooms flood, and the elevators sometimes shut down.
7. Oh, and the escalators broke years ago. They spent the last year removing the escalators and replacing them with stairs.
I mean, it's a building — it requires maintenance and upgrades, you know, money. https://buff.ly/33V0778
I mean, it's a building — it requires maintenance and upgrades, you know, money. https://buff.ly/33V0778
8. Years of disrepair and underfunding have held the Birmingham Public Library back, even as other libraries in the suburbs have thrived, thanks to more funding, more involved residents and better management. For example, @VestaviaHills:
9. Speaking of management, the BPL board hired @FloydCouncil in 2017 as executive director. He came from the Atlanta Fulton Public Library System and had spent 14 years in library management in other large cities. https://buff.ly/307bqb3
10. @BhamTimes: 12/21/17, "Library Director Floyd Council Sr., accomplished singer, Army vet, administrator, outlines master plan for BPL" ... Council outlines his grand plans for the entire system and the community.
11. Less than 5 months on the job, Council already faced tough criticism based on a survey on the library's 285 staffers. https://buff.ly/342EamK
(AFAIK, Iron City Ink never followed up on those disgruntled BPL staffer remarks.)
(AFAIK, Iron City Ink never followed up on those disgruntled BPL staffer remarks.)
12. "Discontent is high and morale low among many employees because of what commenters called Council's belittling comments, lack of appropriate communication, disrespect, micromanagement and a growing 'environment of suspicion.'" @BhamWatch: https://buff.ly/342EamK
13. Council highlighted his accomplishments in his first 100 days on the job in this press release: https://buff.ly/3kMaVv6
(Naturally, it doesn't mention the staff survey.)
(Naturally, it doesn't mention the staff survey.)
14. @BhamWatch: 5/3/18 "Survey Finds Low Morale at the Library; Board Expects Another Executive Session May 8 to Discuss Executive Director" https://buff.ly/3j35ZRX
It's clear the BPL board knows staff is having problems with Council.
It's clear the BPL board knows staff is having problems with Council.
15. The board backs the executive director, noting "Mr. Council has gone above and beyond during the last weeks and months."
Council said, "Leadership is not for the faint of heart. … This is not just about me; it's about what we can do together." https://buff.ly/3665LWM
Council said, "Leadership is not for the faint of heart. … This is not just about me; it's about what we can do together." https://buff.ly/3665LWM
16. Also, the board said in May 2018 that the BPL employee survey would be posted online. I have not been able to locate a copy.
17. Five months later, nearly 20 BPL staffers attended a board meeting to discuss Council's problems.
Four wanted to talk, but only one was allowed — and she was cut off after 2 minutes. (Board members had to convince president James Sullivan to let her come back and finish.)
Four wanted to talk, but only one was allowed — and she was cut off after 2 minutes. (Board members had to convince president James Sullivan to let her come back and finish.)
18. @BhamWatch: 10/9/18 "Birmingham Public Library Atmosphere 'Toxic’ 'Hostile,' Employees Say. Leadership 'Not for Faint of Heart,' New Director Responds."
Staffer Monica King described a "toxic" environment, where staff felt bullied and berated.
Staffer Monica King described a "toxic" environment, where staff felt bullied and berated.
19. Council referred to those speaking up as "extreme outliers." He said he's willing to listen to concerns and has an open-door policy, but also pointed out staff doesn't report directly to him but to their direct supervisors.
20. @JohnArchibald at al·com noted that the BPL board was doing a poor job of listening to employees: https://buff.ly/3iVPpDz .
The board has had a lot of meetings about Council's performance. A lot.
The board has had a lot of meetings about Council's performance. A lot.
21. Following that October 2018 meeting, the BPL board met again that month with a "corrective action plan" and a "performance improvement plan" for Council. Both were kept secret. https://buff.ly/3ctnrwn .
22. More staff members spoke out again against Council: "There's a lot of brokenness and mistrust." "We deserve to work in a non-hostile work environment, like we have been having to deal for the last year under our director."
23. In 2019, Birmingham city council president Valerie Abbott discusses a serious problem at the BPL board: https://buff.ly/2RY8lG0
24. Which brings us to last month, when Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin's proposed 2021 budget arrived, with deep cuts for many departments (except police, though it did cut 50 vacant positions).
Thanks a lot, COVID-19.
@CBS_42: https://buff.ly/367ZgCC
Thanks a lot, COVID-19.
@CBS_42: https://buff.ly/367ZgCC
25. BPL has a proposed $6.2 million for fiscal year 2021, down from 2020's budget of $15.36 million. That's a nearly 60 percent cut. https://buff.ly/2S2Hzfn
26. The board decided last week to furlough 158 of 211 (75%) full- and part-time BPL employees, starting Friday. It's also closing the Eastwood branch (the only one on leased property). @BhamTimes: https://buff.ly/36bUioi
Some services still available: https://buff.ly/2HuDoap .
Some services still available: https://buff.ly/2HuDoap .
27. This came after some considerable confusion:
A. Mayor Woodfin flip-flopped for weeks on the library's promised allocation ( https://buff.ly/3kXOWS7 )
B. City of Birmingham tried to furlough BPL employees first, but the board insisted that was its job ( https://buff.ly/3j1XXca )
A. Mayor Woodfin flip-flopped for weeks on the library's promised allocation ( https://buff.ly/3kXOWS7 )
B. City of Birmingham tried to furlough BPL employees first, but the board insisted that was its job ( https://buff.ly/3j1XXca )
28. @BhamWatch: Tuesday, "Protestors Not Allowed Into Birmingham Council Meeting to Speak on Drastic Cuts to the Library Budget": https://buff.ly/302rQkT . A few BPL staff members were allowed to address the council, but not members of the public.
29. So much for letting the city council and the mayor know how the patrons feel about the proposed cuts to the Birmingham Public Library.
The Alabama Library Association @allibassoc calls the cuts "simply horrifying and draconian in the extreme." https://buff.ly/366lipd
The Alabama Library Association @allibassoc calls the cuts "simply horrifying and draconian in the extreme." https://buff.ly/366lipd
30. Should the council fight for a bigger BPL budget? Restore all of it?
Should the council insist on new leadership at BPL, including executive director Floyd Council and the entire board?
Should the council insist on new leadership at BPL, including executive director Floyd Council and the entire board?
31. Where should the money come from?
Shouldn't someone look deeper into the ongoing 3-years-long problem of Council and unhappy BPL employees?
What happens to BPL in the long run if these cuts stand (staffing, locations, services, morale, infrastructure, lending material)?
Shouldn't someone look deeper into the ongoing 3-years-long problem of Council and unhappy BPL employees?
What happens to BPL in the long run if these cuts stand (staffing, locations, services, morale, infrastructure, lending material)?
32. What can we do to help save BPL?
• Sign a petition (2,700+ signatures): https://buff.ly/331uf1j .
• Contact Mayor @RandallWoodfin (205-254-2771, randall.woodfin[at]birminghamal[dot]gov) and the City Council ( https://buff.ly/308foQV ).
• Sign a petition (2,700+ signatures): https://buff.ly/331uf1j .
• Contact Mayor @RandallWoodfin (205-254-2771, randall.woodfin[at]birminghamal[dot]gov) and the City Council ( https://buff.ly/308foQV ).
33. • Contact the BPL board (you'll have to track down phone numbers and email addresses): https://buff.ly/3j4jUXS .
34. The Birmingham Public Library is an invaluable community institution, but its trustees are allowing it to rot from within. Now it faces an insurmountable loss of funding. But we can still do something about it, if we hurry and speak up.
/end
/end
