ALA-APA News

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Contemplates Union

By Brendan O’Shaunessy, Indianapolis Star, April 3, 2006

A majority of Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library employees, disgruntled over changes in their workplace and concerned about the institution’s future, want to form a union.

Organizers said they will soon ask for formal recognition from the library’s board of directors, which has the power to reject the request.

If recognized by the board, the union would be able to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and workplace conditions. Read the full article - fee based.

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Director Refuses 4% Raise

By Brendan O’Shaunessy, Indianapolis Star, March 29, 2006

The director of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library announced Tuesday she has decided not to accept a 4 percent pay raise that would have brought her salary to nearly $122,000 a year.

In a statement, CEO Linda Mielke said she opted not to accept the nearly $5,000 raise because it “sends the wrong message” at a time when the library is cutting costs. Read the full article - fee based.

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Web Site—www.imcpl.org.

Are Librarians Cool?

Rachel Kidsman [sp], a 22-year old library school student, wrote that she wants to become a young adult librarian and wonders how to convince youth that librarians aren’t "shushy she-demons." The commentator, Lin Brehmer, asks, "Who are librarians’ heroes?" and reviews the image of librarians in various media, including an episode of Friends. During Brehmer’s commentary he recalls working at the New York Public Library and emphatically states that, after spending time with his colleagues, "librarians are just as psycho as the rest of us, only they’re much smarter!" This is an .mp3 file that may play through RealPlayer.

93 WXRT— Chicago’s Finest Rock, www.wxrt.com/artists/audio/mp3/linsbin/111605.mp3.