Michigan's Madison Heights to Lose Its Children's Librarian
RSSBy Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 04/26/2010
Madison Heights Public Library in Madison Heights, MI, has proposed eliminating a full-time library staffer, who serves as the city’s sole children’s librarian.
The move is a result of budget concerns, and the library believes it can continue to meet the needs of students and children.
“Will there be an impact? Certainly,” says Roslyn Yerman, library director for Madison Heights. “But youth services will continue to be met.”
The branch, which currently has just four full-time positions and some part-time staff, has already reduced part-time hours and plans to cut additional hours the library will be open to patrons, Yerman says,.
However, Alex Krentzin, who serves as the children’s librarian for Madison Heights, is fighting the decision to remove his job, stating children will be hurt and that city officials are not following union rules when cutting his position, as part-timers must be let go first.
Jon Austin, Madison Heights’ city manager says Krentzin unfortunately has the lowest seniority at the library and therefore, according to union contracts, must be cut first.
“And our labor legal counsel has indicated to us that there are no part-timers that fall in the same job classification or occupational group,” says Austin.
Madison Heights is facing a budget shortfall much like many public library branches across the nation as the recession, and decreases in city revenue, have led municipalities to slice into funds for libraries. Krentzin’s position is 1 of 46 scheduled for elimination in the city for the coming fiscal year.
However, library services for children are being dealt a double-edge sword across the country. Many schools are choosing to cut school librarians, and even close libraries to meet budget cuts, and public libraries are reducing hours after school, cutting youth programming, and in cases like Madison Heights, eliminating children’s librarians as well.
Austin adds this is the first time Madison Heights has cut a full-time public library staff member since 1992. And Yermin agrees, adding that for the library, reducing its staff is new territory. The new budget is scheduled for approval on May 10 and will go into effect July 1.
“We’re facing challenges,” Yerman adds. “But none of this is a reflection of an individual. These are unique circumstances.”
