New Free Library System Director Siobhan Reardon this past week imposed new staffing requirements.
In order for a library branch to operate and be open to the public, there must now be a minimum of four city-paid staff working at said location. Because of the recent cutbacks to staff at the Free Library, the security guard who normally works at the Port Richmond Branch has been transferred/relocated to the Independence Branch for the working day of Saturday, Jan. 17th.Asked why the minimum number of staff change was being made, Sandy Horrocks, a spokeswoman for the Free Library, said, "We have a new director who is saying four is the minimum, and it should really be six workers." She did not elaborate.
Note: Port Richmond Branch is not one of the 11 branches Mayor Nutter tried to permanently close recently, an action which was denied and declared illegal by Court of Common Pleas Judge Idee C. Fox. The City is appealing the ruling.
Excerpt from Judge Fox's written decision:
"The decision to close these eleven branch libraries is more than a response to a financial crisis; it changes the very foundation of our City. Two of the libraries scheduled to close, Haddinton and Holmesburg, will result in a reversion of the property back to the original grantor because of deed restrictions. No one questions the economic crisis which has rocked both the City and the Nation. However, we are a Nation of hope. A "crisis" evokes something temporary. Defendants argued there were more than enough libraries in Philadelphia. "Philadelphia has more libraries than any other city in the country." Our library system is more than a century old yet in three short months an economic crisis results in permanently closing eleven branches. This court does not envy the Mayor and the tough decisions he has had to make in this financial crisis. Yet, as this court is bound to follow the law, so is the Mayor. The permanent closing of neighborhood branch libraries is changing the very structure of the Free Library of Philadelphia and not just responding to a "financial crisis."
[Full Text Here]
postscript:
When Port Richmond Branch Manager Joan Rachubinski was asked her opinion of Director Reardon new work rule decree she said, "I think it's a good idea."
When asked again, but in the context of Mayor Nutter's recent attempts at closure, and if the two "actions" were related Rachubinski replied "I'm not a mind reader," adding again "[but] I still think it [work staff decree] is a good idea."
Bell Curve Summary, A Quality-o-Life-o-Meter:
The Free Library is now requiring every branch have four workers, not three, before it can open for the day, which could lead to closures. "The rationale here is simple," says Director Siobhan Reardon. "You need one librarian to man the check-out counter, one to stack the books, one to watch the kids, and one to make it mathematically impossible for the city to keep all of our libraries open." Minus 3
The Free Library will display four banners designed by artist Alexander Calder previously thought to be lost. Dear Library. Sell the banners. Sincerely, Duh. Plus 2
The Inquirer's Marcia Gelbart calls the 9-foot photo of Nutter promoting recycling "Stalinesque." Then she calls a bug Kafka-esque. At the train station she tips the newspaper guy and says he's Hot-to-Trotsky-Wotsky. At home she pets her cat and calls him a Dostoyevsky-utie-pie. Even
Members of the SEPTA police force will assist D.C. transit cops during Barack Obama's inauguration. And the city braces for its next international embarrassment. Plus 1
A burglar broke into the nuns' residences at Holy Family University, stealing money and personal items. Next week: "Priest punches man in confessional." Minus 2
Nutter says he is quietly like by most Philadelphians. "It's just one of those thing you don't talk about," says the mayor. "Like picking your nose, or jerking off in a train." Even
SEPTA deems the first day of "the quiet car" program a success. "It was easy," say passengers, "because we were already quietly liking the mayor." Plus 3
Total Pluses: 6
Total Minuses: 5
Total for the Week: 1
Last Week's Total: 8
Note: Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Signe Wilkinson