- Target:
- Winnetka-Northfield Library Patrons
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- wnlibrarysupporters.blogspot.com
Library Director Rebecca Wolf has been managing the library for 6 years. In this time our collection has gone down by 25%, the number of visitors has decreased by 14%, and we've got the worst turn over rate (33% average) on the North Shore. In 2019 we have lost 23 employees (and counting) out of 43. Director Wolf ended the volunteer program which provided great service to our library for free.
HR experts estimate that every employee you lose costs an organization $2000 - $10,000 to replace. (Ads, settlement agreements, legal fees, time spent recruiting, training and the lost of institutional knowledge.)
This cost doesn't include the pain and suffering caused by people losing their income, experiencing the shame of getting let go without any dignity, getting called on the carpet and demeaned, sworn at and yelled at.
The Board has spent $10,725 on a media consultant just for the month of October 2019 to help them deal with The Winnetka Current and The Chicago Tribune when we already have a full time Head of Communications. For years the library has paid for basic business coaching because Ms. Wolf lacked that qualification.
Director Wolf is an example of sunk costs and it's time for the Board to realize that Winnetka and Northfield deserve better.
We’ve stated our concerns at three board meetings and two listening sessions and still neither the Director Rebecca Wolf nor the Library Board of Trustees has taken one action. Thus community members have started a petition to clarify what needs to be done.
Because Director Wolf has not satisfactorily addressed the community's concerns, has not achieved an effectiveness rating of 70% in six years' time and is responsible for an alarming turnover rate, she will be dismissed and that she be replaced with a qualified Director.
Because the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District is in crisis and no current manager has the needed experience or skills, the Acting Director will not be chosen from the current management.
The Acting Director and Board of Trustees will immediately see to it that each branch has dedicated staff within 3 weeks of receiving this petition.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Save Our Library petition to Winnetka-Northfield Library Patrons was written by Libby Library and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.