The following article is reprinted by permission from the March
2004 newsletter of the Fulton County Taxpayers Association.
Mary Kaye Hooker and William McClure
Must Be Ousted from The Library
Eight months ago, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals–upholding a lower
federal court decision–awarded seven white librarians $18 million for
having been racially discriminated against by Mary Kaye Hooker,
Director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, William McClure,
then Chairman and current member of the Library Board of Trustees, and
former Board members Benjamin Jenkins and Mary Jamerson Ward. Under
the terms of employment, the penalty of $18 million was paid by the
taxpayers of Atlanta and Fulton County; not one of those convicted of
a racial discrimination was required to pay a dime.
The latest development is that the Library Board of Trustees–with
William McClure continuing to be a member–has decided to continue the
employment of Mary Kaye Hooker, with the understanding that she
complete a course in sensitivity training.
Because this decision has both moral and financial implications
(taxpayers will find over $49.8 million this year including the
court-ordered penalty), the FCTA has decided to research in-depth the
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and presents the following facts.
Problems At the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
The AFPL has been burdened with a micromanaging Board of Trustees
(Board) since the mid-90s; and with an, at best, questionable and
volatile director, Mary Kaye Hooker, since 1999. The system has
suffered tremendously over the past ten years. The list of ill effects
is long indeed; a few highlights are presented here:
- The AFPL, for many year ranked among the best in the country, is
today ranked in the lowest quartile by the highly-respected Hennen’s
American Library Rating Service.
- Since the mid-90s, three library directors have quit due to a
micromanaging Board. In 1999, the Board hired Mary Kaye Hooker, fomer
director of the El Paso Public Library, who left her position in Texas
under the cloud of a lawsuit and after the mayor of El Paso locked
[Hooker] out of [her] office.
- Since the arrival of Mary Kaye Hooker, there has been an exodus of
staff from the library. In just four years, people in the following
top level administrative positions have left the system: Director of
Finance, Assistant Director for Public Services, Community Relations
Director, Development Officer (twice), Director of Technology, Head of
cataloging, Head of Acquisitions, Head of Serials, Central Library
Administrator, Deputy Director, Branch Administrator, Computer Room
Manager, and Building Services Manager. Eight of the positions are
still vacant.
- In addition to the above brain drain, staff of key system support
areas have been transferred out of their departments. The 30-plus
branch system currently has one cataloger, three acquisitions
librarians, and three computer technicians who tend to over-used
machines from Union City to Alpharetta while manning the computer room
at Central.
- The removal or exodus of pesonnel from key departments has
jeopardized all of the services which are basic to libraries:
- The public catalog sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. It is
filled with errors and inconsistencies.
- Expensive electronic databases (purchased at the expense of the
book budget) are not supported by proper hardware interface[s] and are
therefore sporadically unavailable.
- Book ordering is only done for part of the year and the processes
involved are disorganized and constantly changing. (A large order
destined for one branch was never placed because one of the three
acquisitions librarians was on vacation.)
- Internet and word processing computers and the software that
regulates their use are constantly breaking down. Because of the
dearth of technical staff, the wait for repairs is frequently
considerable.
- The Library is woefully behind other library systems in the
metropolitan area. Even if all computer terminals were working, there
are too few of them to meet demand. An automated circulation system
which has caused problems for yeas is only now being upgraded to a new
product. Other libraries supply bestsellers at a greater and faster
rate, and they do it year-round.
The Library System is in Disarray
The whole of all the library’s problems is greater than the sum of its
parts. This is especially true with regard to the negative effect on
staff who are charged with providing service in a dysfunctional system.
In a public library, an American institution known for service,
equality, opportunity, and learning, the AFPL staff work in a
constant atmosphere of fear, distrust, and frustration.
The Board has increasingly involved itself in the day-to-day operations
of the library, while ignoring the mandated responsibilities of
fund-raising and policy-setting. This process accelerated with the
arrival of Mrs. Hooker who sees her job tenure as directly tied to
carrying out Board orders no matter how destructive, political, or
illegal they may be.
In 2000, Mrs. Hooker addressed the Board’s stated concerns about “too
many white managers at Central” by transferring white managers to
other jobs, under the guise of “reorganization.” So clear was the
evidence of discrimination in these transfers that the resulting
lawsuit ended in 2002 with an award of over $18 million for the
plaintiffs, paid for by the taxpayers of Atlanta/Fulton County. The
U.S. Court of Appeals, upholding the lower-court verdict in 2003, used
the words “trickery,” “deceit,” and “cover-up” in their ruling.
The Recent Library Personnel Study
At the suggestion of County attorneys, the Board recently commissioned
a report on personnel procedures and employee morale by Nancy Reynolds
(someone, in her own words “not experienced in the management of
libraries”) of the attorney firm Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson.
Survey forms were mailed to the home addresses of all staff members
and some former members. The report cost the Fulton County taxpayers
$112,000 in addition to the $18 million court-ordered penalty and the
annual Library budget of $31.8 million, for a total of over $49.8
million!
The 37-page report by Ms. Reynolds contained the following statements:
- “...Many staff members were reluctant to provide any information
whatsoever” (p. 21)
- “Morale among all staff remains low” (p. 23)
- “As in prior surveys, mistrust remains rampant on all levels.”
(p. 24)
- “...It is evident from virtually all levels that the Director has
a tendency, at least on a subconscious level, to lead through fear,
threats and intimidation. She is not only perceived to target
individuals at whim, but has reportedly in some cases openly announced
her desire (and ability) to have specific individuals removed.
Moreover, she is consistently described as unpredictably prone to
belittling and berating staff either publicly and/or in other improper
forums.” (p. 26)
- “...Some staff report working in constant fear.” (p. 26)
- “Staff do not feel they have control over their working lives.”
(p. 27)
- “...Certain members of the Board do not get along with each other
and/or do not get along with the Director. The evident mistrust,
dislike and hostility contributes to the fear of reprisal, insecurity,
low morale and instability of staff.” (p. 27)
- “Rather than instilling confidence in her leadership, the
Director’s management style has created the impression among many
staff members that she either lacks the ability to lead effectively or
lacks the knowledge and/or skills to manage a library.” (p. 28)
- “It appears that the Board does exercise more control over
day-to-day maters than do the boards of most corporations.” (p. 28)
- “And unlike most boards, it appears that the Library Board members
are not necessarily familiar with library operations, or, more
specifically, the actual day-to-day goings on at the Library.” (p. 28)
- “...Staff perceive that the present Director has no real control
over the Library, serves at the pleasure of the Board and, thus,
either can not or will not stand up to the Board.” (p. 29)
After these findings, what are some of the recommendations put forth
by Nancy Reynolds of the attorney firm Elabee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson?
- Initiate regular and open communications with staff.
- Cease the public airing of grievances.
- Require the Director to complete sensitivity and equal employment opportunity training.
No! This is not enough! This is so little as to be
laughable. This report with its recommendations that cost the County
taxpayers $112,000, will do nothing but bring down the morale of the
staff that is already “too low.” Interestingly, the report has not
been made available to staff. At present, it can be obtained [only]
via a request under the [Georgia] Open Records Act, negating Ms.
Reynolds’ first recommendation.
And if this were not insulting enough, on page 25 is the following
statement:
“...the library should focus on moving beyond the lawsuit and related
issues...the library needs closure.”
How can the library move on when those convicted by the courts of
racial discrimination are still running the library? Both Director
Mary Kaye Hooker and Board Member William McClure were found guilty of
discrimination in federal courts. If lower-level employees were found
guilty of the same crime, would they be sent for sensitivity training?
Of course not: they would be dismissed immediately.
It is imperative that Mary Kaye Hooker and William McClure be
dismissed without further delay. It is imperative that the Board
be reduced in size and be composed of knowledgable individuals who are
comitted to good library service for all. It is imperative that the
Director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Syhstem be appointed by
the County Manager and serve at the pleasure of the County Manager as
in the case of all other County Departments. Only then can healing,
closure and growth truly begin.
Most of these imperatives are included in Senate Bill 231, sponsored
by one of Georgia’s finest legislators, Senator Tom Price. SB 231
passed the Senate in April 2003 by a vote of 46 to 0 and is now in the
House. FACTA members are implored to email the following members of
the Fulton County House Delegation urging them to pass Senate Bill 231.
[There follows the list of legislators and their email addresses
that is posted elsewhere on AFPLWATCH]
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