Local 1930 is battling a restructuring
plan at the New York Public Library that protects the jobs of high-paid
administrators while it shrinks the ranks of middle managers and unionized
staff.
The downsizing plan, known as Customers First, Positive Change
in Volatile Times, will hurt library services, cut promotional
opportunities and undermine the librarian profession, said Ray Markey,
president of Local 1930.
Union members are also alarmed by another plan supported by NYPLs
top management with a grant from HSBC bank. This scheme would open up
a new library run by volunteers in Bryant Park, next to
the librarys main building with its famous lion statues.
This is an assault on the profession, not just the union,
Mr. Markey told a group of about 100 members at an emergency meeting
at the Mid-Manhattan Library at 455 Fifth Ave.
Under the downsizing plan, the Library has eliminated the childrens
specialist position in borough offices. As a result, childrens
librarians are denied a promotional opportunity and losing mentors who
used to provide crucial support for activity planning, career development
and resource development.
A couple of months ago, the Library held its last storytelling program
in which childrens librarians met to practice reciting books from
memory and get feedback from colleagues. The decision to cut this beloved
program ends a 94-year tradition.
The Library has eliminated four Office Associate 3 positions and four
Regional Librarian posts by consolidating its six regional offices into
four district offices. It has slashed positions at the Mid-Manhattan
Library, closed its central book ordering office, and left vacancies
in specialty titles, such as Rare Books Librarian.
Managers, not librarians
Meanwhile, NYPL isnt touching its top management structure, which
is headed by President Paul LeClerc, who enjoys an annual compensation
package of $586,000. Of the 14 top managers, who each earn at least
$136,000, only three have librarian degrees.
The staff flattening came as the NYPL faced a 14 percent
budget cut after years of cutbacks. Noting that Local 1930s membership
has plummeted by more than 200 since NYPL imposed a hiring freeze in
October 2001, Vice President Lynn Taylor said, They are gutting
services at the publics expense.
Librarian Susan Pine said that as a result of staff shortages, many
librarian duties are now being carried out by Information Assistants,
Local 1930 members who are college graduates but do not have a masters
of library science degree. What we are talking about is the elimination
of the M.L.S., she said.
Members charged that the Bryant Park plan for a library staffed by volunteers,
but not librarians, also threatens the profession. The Bryant Park Restoration
Corp., whose directors include Mr. LeClerc, NYPL administrators Michael
Zavelle and T. Dennis Sullivan, and former trustees Marshall Rose and
Andrew Heiskell, oversees the project.
Why in the world would the top leaders of the New York Public
Library support another institution in the Librarys back yard
with services provided by volunteers? Mr. Markey asked.