Newaygo Library Diaries

[XLFD]

Perhaps you remember a book written about eight years ago called The Library Diaries written by Ann Miketa about a fictional library and its odd patrons.  You may also remember the controversy that ensued because Ms. Miketa was actually a Ludington librarian named Sally Stern-Hamilton who used a picture of the Ludington library on her book cover and used readily identifiable locals as the cast of characters.

Stern-Hamilton was eventually fired as a result of her authorship of this book and the controversy that followed.  She then launched a lawsuit for her First Amendment rights being violated, and scored a Pyrrhic victory at the end when she settled for less than her costs. 

In the city of Newaygo, affairs of the local library have also rose to the point where silence is no longer an option.  A newly hired library administrator has fired a long-term librarian under the presumption that this librarian had embezzled funds.  Newaygo Police are currently investigating the charges. 

Unfortunately, besides making the charge of embezzlement against this employee, the director gives no indication of what happened, and has been avoiding telling the public and the accused librarian and details.  While it initially looks like it may involve nothing more than allowing some patrons the 'first look' at new books, the library has seen an exodus of employees quitting since the new director was hired six months ago.    

It looks as if the new director may have some issues with her employee relations skills at least, and definitely has problems with transparency involving the situation.  If you publicly accuse someone of a serious crime, you should have more than what she has shown (nothing) to back your words up.  WOOD TV did a report on the action:

NEWAYGO, Mich. (WOOD) — Dozens of Newaygo Library patrons showed up at the library’s board meeting Tuesday to express outrage about the firing of a longtime librarian.

As a criminal investigation regarding allegations of embezzlement continues, librarian Georgia Kohlbeck, 63, has been fired.

Christina Golm, who was hired as the library director about six months ago, made the move on Oct. 9 and contacted Newaygo police to launch an investigation. She sent an email explaining the situation to library board members.

“I’m sorry to inform you that one of our staff, Georgia, was caught embezzling funds from the library. We had to let her go last Friday. We have already filed a report to the police, and we are taking this to court. If someone asks you what happened, we can’t talk about it. We can say that she is no long [sic] with us, and that we can’t talk about it,” the email, which 24 Hour News 8 obtained from a source close to the situation. reads. “Georgia is going around making things worse for herself. If you hear anything from her or anyone really, please email me the details… I am so sorry abut this.”

Kohlbeck, a 13-year veteran at the library, says she hasn’t stolen anything and was given no indication as to what the embezzlement allegations entail.

(Former Newaygo librarian Georgia Kohlbeck.)

“[Golm] said ‘Well, I hate to do this, but I’m letting you go. I found proof of embezzlement but I’m sure you didn’t mean it,'” Kohlbeck told 24 Hour News 8 in an interview Tuesday. “I said, ‘could you explain that to me?’ and she said ‘no’ and handed me a box.”

Several people spoke at the Tuesday afternoon board meeting to support Kohlbeck, who was not at the meeting. They also expressed concerns about Golm, who was present.

“[Kohlbeck is] well-liked by the children. She’s well-liked by the public,” library patron Vivian Sorden told the board.

“I just really don’t understand how this all happened. It’s disgusting,” another supporter said.

Newaygo police would only confirm an ongoing investigation but released no details about what has been found. Library board president Ted Mitchell said he did not believe the allegations involve stolen cash but instead how Kohlbeck handled rentals. He said an audit was being conducted as part of the investigation.

Several supporters said Kohlbeck would regularly allow well-known library patrons to check out brand new books before they were entered into the library’s computer system.

(The library in Newaygo.)

Kohlbeck admitted doing so and says she had done so for years.

“I have special patrons,” Kohlbeck explained. “I get new books and they get to read ’em first.”

The library was forced to close because several staffers have quit since Golm was brought on board. At full-strength, the library staffs between six and eight people, Mitchell said. Now, the staff has been reduced to four.

Mitchell said the situation is a disaster for the library like he has never seen before.

“I’m struggling with this one,” said one library employee who spoke at the meeting.

“Our voice was shut down by our director,” another now former employee said.

“She has exhibited no faith in our abilities as professionals,” a third library employee told the board.

24 Hour News 8 asked Mitchell if the situation indicates a mistake in the board’s decision to bring Golm on board.

(Newaygo Library Director Christina Golm.)

“No comment,” Mitchell said.

Golm does have the authority to fire staffers without board approval, Mitchell said. And because Kohlbeck was employed “at-will,” he said Golm was not out of bounds in terminating her.

Kohlbeck said she has yet to be interviewed by police investigating the case but does not expect criminal charges.

“I don’t even know what to do,” she said. “Somebody said I’m lawyered up … I can’t afford a lawyer.”

She vehemently denied stealing anything.

“Oh, God, no,” she said. “We (the library) don’t have any [money]! … And I would not. Why would I?”

Signs at the library said it would reopen Wednesday. Mitchell said he was working hard to see to it that it reopens as soon as possible.

Golm walked out of the board meeting and ignored questions from 24 Hour News 8.

Mitchell said he expected the results of the police investigation soon.

Kohlbeck said she wants her job back.

“When I became a librarian, it was like, ‘Oh my God, this is it. This is what I’m supposed to do.’ Yeah, I want my job back,” Kohlbeck said. “I want it back for our patrons. I love those people.”

http://woodtv.com/2015/10/20/newaygo-librarians-firing-sparks-anger...

[Willy]

Another example of a power hungry administrator. People who are going to be place in charge of public entities should be thoroughly vested to determine if they are fit to perform their duties. Even then some of these creeps sneak thru the cracks. I may be wrong but from what I have read, the library boss has gone off the deep end.

[XLFD]

In this 2013 article, Christina Golm is honored as a member of an elite library fellowship while serving as a member of the Wayland library staff and in the process of getting her master's degree in library information science.  One could easily believe that someone like her would make a good fit as a library administrator.

Unfortunately, library science and leadership do not always walk hand in hand, and you can't really tell how someone will really lead until the pressure comes in.  Libraries are places which should have things in order and easily found, Ms. Golm is failing in that regard; perhaps her admonishment by the local library board is overdue.  But as in many situations like this, her failure would reflect badly on them so they don't do the reasonable thing.

WZZM also ran a story that showed a normally quiet meeting of the library board with some passionate librarians speaking up about the situation they perceive.

[Willy]

I wish someone with some gonads would take control of Ludingtons library. Sometimes the noise inside is worse than the noise outside. Kids running around and yelling, babies crying, people talking and laughing loudly, people talking loudly on cell phones, noise, noise, noise. I've never seen a library like Ludington's with a day-care inside that is open to the entire library with no regards to the confusion and noise it causes. I hear the staff laughing and talking very loudly with no consideration for the partons they serve. I've mentioned this before but I've never seen or heard the noise levels like this in any other library. What these people are teaching kids is that it's OK to let loose and act loudly in the library with no respect for others. It's just plain nuts. I only go there as a last resort to gather information or use the computer when mine is down. The library is not supposed to be a social gathering place but those in control of Ludingtons do not seem to understand that. It is the last place on Earth anyone should go to read and do research.