lislemck writes “Philadelphia Councilman Michael Nutter addressing Free Library of Philadelphia administrator Kevin Vaughan and the library administration that put forth the plan to layoff librarians and “express” 20 libraries at City Council hearings on March 17, 2005:
“…at some point in time in your professional career, there comes a moment; there comes a challenge;
there comes a circumstance;
when sometimes you just have to say no.”
Just Say No
Right on, Councilman Nutter! Now where are the leaders of ALA, PLA, etc.?
Anyone Realize How Important This Is?
Hey librarians!
Am I understanding what happened here correctly?
Is this a case where the Library Administrator came to the City council with a proposal to cut librarians and libraries and a member of the City council said NO???
Whoa…the LIBRARY Administrator DID NOT stand up for libraries but a City Council person DID?
Anyone got the full text of what Michael Nutter said? Was a story about this in the Philly paper?
Anyone know if this has happened anywhere else?
As I understand it, in Salinas, it was the Library
Adminstration, Employees, Users and everyone BUT
the Mayor and the City Council who stood up for their library…
Michael Nutter
Here’s the full-text of Michael Nutter’s remarks. It’s become our credo at the Free Library:
… at some point in time in your professional career,
there comes a moment;
there comes a challenge;
there comes a circumstance;
when sometimes you just have to say no.
I’m not doing that.
I am a professional.
This is not professional.
I am not engaging in it.
I am not putting that plan forward
and signing my name to it;
because I am a professional at what I do.
… there comes a point in every person’s circumstance or situation,
when sometimes you just have to say:
This is wrong.
It is not good enough.
If you want me to implement this;
go find someone else to do it.
Sometimes you just got to say that;
to let people know how serious you are
about what’s going on.
As opposed to going along to get along…
Administration Does Nothing
You’ve got it exactly right. It’s City Council that wants to save the Free Library while the Mayor and the Administration want to destroy it.
Another City Council Member stepped up to the plate yesterday. Frank DiCicco proposed a bill that would rescind the $30 million bond for the expansion of the Central Library if the branches aren’t fully funded and staffed.
There’s an Inquirer article here (registration required): http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/1128 1330.htm