Getting our due

I work at the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library and I very much enjoyed your article in this week’s NUVO (Hoppe, “Unionizing the Public Library,” April 12-19). Several other staff have also expressed their appreciation. I want everyone to be aware, though, that it is not only librarians who have serious concerns about the shift in mission our organization seems to be in the midst of. Support staff have many of the same concerns, as well as those unique to their particular positions. Maybe it is natural for people to think library equals librarians. Not everyone realizes that a substantial percentage of library staff hold other positions.

Our accounts payable assistant makes sure the bills get paid. Staff in the delivery section load the trucks and deliver the material to the branches, as well as handling the mail. The staff in our various computer technology departments make sure our equipment is in working order. Without them nobody else would get much work done. Pages put books in order and reshelve them. Many of these folks ask for regular updates on our progress.

I am a processing assistant. No one could be more involved in the organizing drive than I am. I have been on the committee from day one. Another member is a library assistant (what we used to call circulation clerks). These are the people who check out your books and other material for you at Central or the branches, and they have many other duties besides. One of us works in the department responsible for selecting material for the library’s collection, and one answers the phone when people call for information on literally any subject, as well as performing many other tasks. And of course there are several librarians on the committee. We meet every week to discuss strategy and any new issues that may have cropped up. Everyone has a stake in our success. I just want all of us to get our due.

I always appreciate the depth of thought that goes into your writing. Your past experience allows you to view our situation in a more personal way than most other writers, and it shows.

Pamela Wright
Indianapolis