BALTIMORE COUNTY — Earlier this week, 14 Baltimore County Public Library employees were laid off.
There's no word on the reason for the dismissal, but county leaders are taking notice.
Councilman Izzy Patoka said, "the timing of these firings lack compassion and are tone deaf, not only to the time of year, but also the state of our current economy."
His full statement can be found below.
Libraries are an essential part of our communities. With Baltimore County's sudden
departure from its commitment to the proposed Middle River library and now the firing of 14 library employees,
libraries have come under attack from within. In both cases, there was no stakeholder engagement. These
inexplicable actions are unacceptable. The timing of these firings lack compassion and are tone deaf, not only to
the time of year, but also the state of our current economy. I call on an immediate reversal of these firings and
prompt stakeholder engagement.
Izzy Patoka
A spokesperson for the Baltimore County Government said they are "concerned about what appears to be an abrupt and untimely dismissal of 14 Baltimore County Public Library staff member this week."
The full statement can be found below.
We are concerned about what appears to be an abrupt and untimely dismissal of 14 Baltimore County Public Library staff members this week — some of whom have given many years of service to our communities.
As a component unit of Baltimore County Government, Baltimore County Public Library is solely governed by — and accountable to — the Board of Library Trustees.
We empathize with those coming to terms with the loss of their jobs this holiday season, and encourage all who are affected to explore the opening and resources available with the Baltimore County Government.
A statement from the Baltimore County Public Library System can be read below:
On Wednesday, November 12, Baltimore County Public Library informed 14 part-time librarians their positions were eliminated as part of a decade-long decision to phase-out part-time librarians. While the operational intent behind the decision was to enhance the level of service at the branches, we acknowledge this process was not handled with the respect and transparency our part-time librarians deserved.
To that end, effective immediately, Baltimore County Public Library is reinstating the 14 part-time librarians and their positions. Library leadership will work with key stakeholders to determine the best path forward for this position. We continue to encourage the impacted employees to apply to available openings, several of which are full-time librarian opportunities.
Baltimore County Public Library prides itself on being a trusted community pillar and understands this recent decision, and its communication, may have undermined that trust. Our goal is to restore the community’s confidence in the coming days, weeks and months. The library’s priority is to support staff and strengthen service at our 19 branches to meet the needs of Baltimore County residents today and into the future.
