LIBRARIES FIGHT BACK! -ALA New Orleans

Attend LIBRARIES FIGHT BACK!  ALA-New Orleans  Monday, June 27 10:30 – 12 noon Rm 287 MCC.

When budget crises occur, libraries always seem to be the first resource offered up for sacrifice. This program will examine the essential services that libraries provide to their communities. Public, academic, and special library communities will be discussed. The program will also examine the inventive ways that library workers combat the erroneous belief that their work is “nonessential” or “extra” and provide tools for those who wish to fight  back for their library community.  A special focus will be paid to the  relationship between union advocacy and library advocacy.

Organized by: AFL-CIO/ALA Joint Committee on Library Service to Labor Groups

The program will feature AFSCME’s own Elissa C. Cadillic is the President of AFSCME Council 93 Local 1526 at the Boston Public Library.

With Elissa’s help, the Boston Public Library successfully fought proposals to cut staff and services. Early on, up to 10 libraries were targeted for closing, and numerous layoffs were proposed. There had not been layoffs in the 150-year history of the Boston Public Library. Forming a broad coalition of political and community leaders, Elissa and AFSCME Local 1526 prevented library closings and minimized layoffs.  

Amy Fry is the Electronic Resources Coordinator at Bowling Green State
University (BGSU). The BGSU faculty, which includes librarians, recently voted to unionize. Amy is on the union’s steering committee and two of the bargaining research committees preparing for negotiations. She is also the presiding officer of the library faculty body. Amy will talk about the process to form a union as well as the benefits of union affiliation for faculty librarians.

Jason Neely is the Career and Business Resources Librarian at the Russell
Library in Middletown, Connecticut. The Business and Career Program at Russell Library is aimed at teaching job seekers the skills they need to succeed in their search for work. The program started after the economic downturn and is largely grant funded. Last year alone the program had total attendance over 1,600. Programs include: a job group; workshops (that utilize local experts); practice interviews; job coaching; resume review and interview coaching; a career center (with a comprehensive print collection); and computer classes.

Questions? Contact Joint Committee co-chair Jennifer Dorning: 503-863-0340 or jdorning@dpeaflcio.org.

Jessica Storrs

Research Librarian

AFSCME

1625 L St, NW

Washington DC 20036

202-429-1222