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Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Meetup discussion group: Please weigh in!
My name is Larissa Kyzer and I am an Assistant Organizer for the NY Librarians MeetUp Group and an MSLIS student at the Palmer School in Manhattan. I'm interested in starting a book club which would meet every other month to discuss non-professional books about libraries and librarians. Some preliminary ideas for books to read are This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson, Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles, and Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas. These are all nonfiction titles, but we could also read some "fun" fiction titles--for instance, there are a ton of "bibliomysteries" featuring librarians.
I'm assuming that people would prefer to meet and discuss in person, but we could also use the NY Librarian MeetUp's existing Goodreads page to post thoughts about the books we read online. I've seen a couple book groups that are only conducted through Goodreads (not in person) and they seem to work pretty well.
So:
1. Are people interested in a library-themed book group?
2. If so, would you prefer in-person, virtual, or combo meetings?
3. Any book suggestions?
Looking forward to your feedback--thanks!
I'm assuming that people would prefer to meet and discuss in person, but we could also use the NY Librarian MeetUp's existing Goodreads page to post thoughts about the books we read online. I've seen a couple book groups that are only conducted through Goodreads (not in person) and they seem to work pretty well.
So:
1. Are people interested in a library-themed book group?
2. If so, would you prefer in-person, virtual, or combo meetings?
3. Any book suggestions?
Looking forward to your feedback--thanks!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Reduction In Force At The Mount Vernon Public Library (Layoffs and Demotions)
In January all the part-time workers had their hours cut in half. I thought more of them were laid off, but that did not happen. This follows a pattern of struggle with the budget. By June, the Mount Vernon Public Library was $400,000 in debt.. On June 4, library management said that they might close the library for three months. I think funds may get tighter near the end of the year.
On July 2, 2010 we had a reduction in force where 14 people were laid off, and 9 people were demoted. The number of full time workers that Mount Vernon before the layoff was 33. More than half of the staff are affected.
The process is done by seniority where the most senior members are reduced in title and moved down a grade. Those directly below them are moved down a grade as well, until it reaches the bottom where those people are laid off. It is a civil service process. It is called bumping. I did not expect it in a library. You get a little booklet produced by municipal civil service which is handed to you as part of the process. If you are in a government department, it is very standardized. The civil service commission monitors the process.
There were two human resource people from civil service, one for the group that got bumped, and one for the group that got laid off. There were also two police cruisers outside in case anything happened. Nothing did which was a blessing.
I got bumped down a grade. I am still where I am. By law, you have to take the demotion, you cannot be laid off. If you decline, you get fired in civil service.
There was a start date of July 2, 2010 and a finalization date of July 17, 2010 for notice for the demotion to go into effect. Between those two times, I remain a Librarian II. Needless to say, there is kind of an urge to contact my representatives and tell them about it. I still have hope.
The hardest part of this was watching the recent hires leave as they were laid off. It changes your perspective. Also, seeing people who had been around much longer than you were being lowered in title was hard.
Talking or writing about the layoff has to be a very calm process, preferably as part of a mass group. For example, on July 8, there is going to be a press conference in front of Mount Vernon, New York City Hall at 12 Noon about the layoff. I'll be working at the time at the reference desk. Part of the job is to remain calm, say very little, avoid negativity in both spoken and written word, and do what you always do. It is kind of an evaluation under pressure.
Stephanie L. Gross asked me if I would like to write about this.
On July 2, 2010 we had a reduction in force where 14 people were laid off, and 9 people were demoted. The number of full time workers that Mount Vernon before the layoff was 33. More than half of the staff are affected.
The process is done by seniority where the most senior members are reduced in title and moved down a grade. Those directly below them are moved down a grade as well, until it reaches the bottom where those people are laid off. It is a civil service process. It is called bumping. I did not expect it in a library. You get a little booklet produced by municipal civil service which is handed to you as part of the process. If you are in a government department, it is very standardized. The civil service commission monitors the process.
There were two human resource people from civil service, one for the group that got bumped, and one for the group that got laid off. There were also two police cruisers outside in case anything happened. Nothing did which was a blessing.
I got bumped down a grade. I am still where I am. By law, you have to take the demotion, you cannot be laid off. If you decline, you get fired in civil service.
There was a start date of July 2, 2010 and a finalization date of July 17, 2010 for notice for the demotion to go into effect. Between those two times, I remain a Librarian II. Needless to say, there is kind of an urge to contact my representatives and tell them about it. I still have hope.
The hardest part of this was watching the recent hires leave as they were laid off. It changes your perspective. Also, seeing people who had been around much longer than you were being lowered in title was hard.
Talking or writing about the layoff has to be a very calm process, preferably as part of a mass group. For example, on July 8, there is going to be a press conference in front of Mount Vernon, New York City Hall at 12 Noon about the layoff. I'll be working at the time at the reference desk. Part of the job is to remain calm, say very little, avoid negativity in both spoken and written word, and do what you always do. It is kind of an evaluation under pressure.
Stephanie L. Gross asked me if I would like to write about this.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
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