Lakewood Library update!

[Ian Phillips]

How can any of you sing the praises of Ken Warren as a library director? He rules Lakewood Public Library like it is his personal fiefdom. His demeanor is intimidating and many of his actions indicate that he has little regard for the personal welfare of the LPL staff. How do I know all this? It is because I work in the library field and I know people who have worked at LPL and were more than happy to get out. Mr. Warren has the Board in his pocket and staff know this. This is how he continues to get away with being an iron fist "ruler."

To expect an already underpaid staff to lose pay due to HIS lack of proper planning is a testament to Mr. Warren's incredible detachment from the staff. As a Lakewood home owner, I have no problem with the staff being paid on days when the library is closed due to construction issues. This is just the way things go during construction. Closures are inevitable and a decent library director would know this and plan FAR in advance so that his/her staff would not suffer. I am amazed Mr. Warren is ok with not paying the staff and then has the gall to toss them a "clean up after the gala" bone like they are nothing more than dogs. As a Lakewood Tax Payer, I think it would have been nice to invite the staff FREE OF CHARGE to the gala rather than treat them like indentured servants.

Also, a good director budgets appropriately to move the library collection. They do not expect the staff to do this. A good director hires TRAINED movers so as to avoid injury to the library staff...injury which could lead to workers comp claims.

Mr. Warren has taken what should have been an exciting time for the LPL workers and turned it into a nightmare. The fact that LPL is considered one the top libraries in the country has very little to do with him. LPL is number one because a concerned and committed staff has managed to provided excellent service in spite of the actions of Mr. Warren.

[ryan costa]

if the regular operations of the library are temporarily suspended, there is nothing to pay the workers to do. The workers could plan for this and use their sick/vacation days accordingly. that is more than fair.

[Suzanne Metelko]

Mr. Phillips - are you an employee of the County Library system?

[Jeff Endress]

Well, at least now we know who the "anonymous friend" is.

While Ian may have been in favor of giving all library employees a paid three week vacation, I doubt that many Lakewood taxpayers would share that view. (You out there Mr. Call?)

With regard to the impact that closing would have on our dedicated employees, the library had essentially three options:

a. During the closure, layoff the main library employees allowing them to collect unemployment and hire an outside moving company to accomplish the work that could have been done by those employees. This scenario represents the “lose, loseâ€Â￾ solution. The employees would lose because the wages which they will earn in doing the library’s move are substantially more than any amounts that they would have received in unemployment compensation. The library would lose by having to spend in excess of $100,000.00 to accomplish the move that could have been handled by its employees.

b. The second scenario would have entailed giving all of the main branch employees paid vacation during the closure time and hiring an outside company to do the move. I suppose this scenario would be the “win, loseâ€Â￾ scenario. The employees of the main branch would certainly win by virtue of receiving some three weeks of paid vacation at the taxpayer’s expense while the library, the taxpayers would lose by virtue of this significant pay out in addition to the significant moving costs. This option was rejected as being financial irresponsible and indefensible vis-à-vis our taxpayers and their support and as creating an additional need to provide a similar benefit to the Madison employees, out of fairness.

c. The third option, the option which we have elected to pursue, was to have the library employees do the move thereby reducing to a minimum the impact of lost work time (and allowing income far beyond what would have been awarded by virtue of unemployment) and also permitting a continuation of health care benefits. This also eliminates the extra cost of an outside mover. While we recognize that there was an impact upon our employees, we also realize that it was the only realistic and acceptable solution and minimized that impact to the greatest extent that fiscal responsibility could accept.

Your personal attacks on Ken Warren, who has done so much for this community, are insulting.

Jeff

[Jim O'Bryan]

How can any of you sing the praises of Ken Warren as a library director?

Ian

It is simple, because he is good, no the best.

The library was not ranked one of the best, it was ranked the best.

That would be 5 out of 6 years I believe.

He is supported by a tremendous staff, that he takes a very close working relationship with. Every member of the library I have dealt with echo Ken's ideals, dreams, visions, openness and goals.

Your comment about good library directors budget is weak, very week. Not only did Ken budget, but when it came in at over $100,000 dollars he desperately searched for other ways to do the job to save more money for the building.

He came up with a plan that has been met with nearly 97% agreement with workers.

But why let facts get in the way of a good honest person, trying to make Lakewood better. Wait, not trying, succeeding at every level!


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[dl meckes]

I have organized many fundraisers for many groups over a good thirty years. I probably work on two or three fundraisers a year - and I've cut back.

There is absolutely no way that I would agree to giving 90 comps when there's room for 600 people.

And if I gave away 90 tickets, those people who wanted to invite a partner would be angry that they couldn't get freebies for them as well.

I have also never worked on any committee that allowed an Executive Director to run an event. That's not their job. Executive Directors normally have little input in a fund raiser. They have to help sell tickets and they have to show up and work the crowd.

This fantasy about Mr. Warren's input into the fund raiser doesn't stand up to reality.

I also know any number of people who either work, have worked or want to work in the library. The fine staff that exists there doesn't materialize out of thin air. I have not been privy to the information that you have. All I hear and all I see is positive. It's not because I don't want to hear anything else, that's just what's happened over quite a few years.

I have no idea what your personal vendetta is against Mr. Warren, but I have no problems at all in singing his praises. Rarely have I found anyone as interesting or engaging, as knowledgeable or forward thinking as he in public life. Mr. Warren has been open, engaged and unyielding giving of his time, talent and energy. I see him as an example of what an engaged civic being should be.

[Dustin James]

How can any of you sing the praises of Ken Warren as a library director? He rules Lakewood Public Library like it is his personal fiefdom. His demeanor is intimidating and many of his actions indicate that he has little regard for the personal welfare of the LPL staff. How do I know all this? It is because I work in the library field and I know people who have worked at LPL and were more than happy to get out.

Mr. Phillips - In other words you are relying on second hand and biased information.

Mr. Warren has the Board in his pocket and staff know this. This is how he continues to get away with being an iron fist "ruler."

Again, Boards such as these are comprised of dedicated individuals looking for the betterment of the community. This is not Enron for crying out loud.
You characterize this as some sort of Bernie Ebbers of WorldCom thing. Get over it. It's called leadership -- every communication I've ever had with Mr. Warren has been stimulating and informed. We've disagreed but his demeanor is not intimidating, it's educated. Hmmm, what an odd quality for a library director.

To expect an already underpaid staff to lose pay due to HIS lack of proper planning is a testament to Mr. Warren's incredible detachment from the staff. As a Lakewood home owner, I have no problem with the staff being paid on days when the library is closed due to construction issues. This is just the way things go during construction. Closures are inevitable and a decent library director would know this and plan FAR in advance so that his/her staff would not suffer.

"A decent library director would know this...?" Mr. Phillips, you are talking caustically and inaccurately about one of the preeminent directors in the country. You have no problem with the staff being paid? Fortunately not everything in civic government requires the expense and hassle of a referendum to qualify moving forward on the business of progress. Your one vote is noted. I'm over 700 miles away and fondly remember that library from childhood. It sounds like it's in very good hands, or else there would be pickets parading outside demanding an even better f_ _ _ing library than what you have.

I am amazed Mr. Warren is ok with not paying the staff and then has the gall to toss them a "clean up after the gala" bone like they are nothing more than dogs. As a Lakewood Tax Payer, I think it would have been nice to invite the staff FREE OF CHARGE to the gala rather than treat them like indentured servants.

What you don't know is a lot Mr. Phillips. Do you really think that library staff take a job in the library to make a killing? Could it be that for the relative wages appropriated for the work, that it beats working in fast food? That a stimulating environment in the halls of knowledge, might afford the occasional disconnect to business as usual, when a very unusual opportunity comes along? Fundraisers are not fund-givers Mr. Phillips.

Also, a good director budgets appropriately to move the library collection. They do not expect the staff to do this. A good director hires TRAINED movers so as to avoid injury to the library staff...injury which could lead to workers comp claims.

Mr. Endress has addressed this allegation in detail and it makes total sense.

Mr. Warren has taken what should have been an exciting time for the LPL workers and turned it into a nightmare. The fact that LPL is considered one the top libraries in the country has very little to do with him. LPL is number one because a concerned and committed staff has managed to provided excellent service in spite of the actions of Mr. Warren.

The fact that LPL is considered THE top library in the country has EVERYTHING to do with him. Do you think that leadership and vision just spring forth from the hearts and minds of staff? To be sure they play a role and either are part of that progression or they move on. But to paint Mr. Warren as some kind of tyrant for his success, simply begs the question of why you don't get it? Me thinks you doth protest too much.

Your envy is showing sir.

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[Gary Rice]

I for one, will be happy to step up to the plate and gladly sing the praises of Ken Warren.

He has patiently and repeatedly explained the process by which this time of transition is being handled.

It has been my personal experience that Ken is an active listener. His willingness to come forward on the 'Deck and respond has been a refreshing example of open response to community concerns.

The performance of our library, under his leadership, has been well established.

As far as complementary tickets are concerned. This Gala is a fund-raiser. No one so far as I am aware, gets in free.

Dad and I gladly paid for two reservations to the Gala. We know the value of supporting the Library. I would confidently suspect that many library employees also are well aware of the value of this Gala, and would support the goals involved, as well.

Ken, I would simply encourage you to keep a thick skin. You have the high ground, as far as I am concerned.

Keep up the good work!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Mr. Phillips - are you an employee of the County Library system?

Suzanne

His silence is deafening.

Yes.

This brings many of things into play.


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[Joe Ott]

Is Ian Phillips real? Is there any validity to some of the comments?

[Joe Ott]

His demeanor is intimidating and many of his actions indicate that he has little regard for the personal welfare of the LPL staff. How do I know all this?

I find this to be rather shocking. I met Ken once a couple weeks ago. While driving down Madison I saw him walking down the street. I recognized him from photos here. I pulled to the side and parked. All I wanted to do was say hi and introduce myself to him. We ended up having a very long and insightful conversation. I found him to be down-to-earth and eager to talk and educate me on the issues we were discussing. In no way did he ever come across to me as intimidating or anything other than caring for Lakewood and its people.

This post says a lot:

Mr. Endress and Mr. Warren,
The Lakewood Public Library, represented by its board and director, seems to be the only public institution in Lakewood that understands how to use the Observer and Observation Deck to communicate positively and effectively.

Thanks for the rational explanations of sophisticated planning in the public interest. I appreciate the first hand dialog with real people that have real names on this forum. This is a unique and powerful portal to information for the public good.

City Hall and the Schools should take a lesson.

Thanks again for your efforts, and thanks for sharing here.

Steve

Well said stephen.

I can't wait to get into the new sections. The library is the most positive thing lkwd has right now. Don't let a couple trolls rain on the party.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Is Ian Phillips real or just a troll?

Real. Troll is up to the readers to decide.

Joe we go through a pretty good vetting process. We have done everything possible to stop faux people hiding in the shadows.

The biggest vanguard on all of this is our members. We have all put on names on this and anyone pulling a stunt, is attacking and deceiving all of us. What would be the purpose, harm the citizen owned and run paper and website?

Ian like all of us are entitled to their opinions. I welcome him joining and kicking off his new membership in this forum with attacking the library, in it's Gala week. Of course like me, you and everyone else, we must look at the reasoning why and any bias.

A war the library and many of us have been fighting is regionalism. No one has struggled more against this then our award winning library. A crown jewel of American libraries. Jeff, Suzanne, and Ken have gone to hundreds of meeting on regionalizing the library only walking away more entrenched never. No future for Lakewood there.

Then we have Union issues, floating beneath the surface. While Library has built with union help where and when it made sense, he also opened the bids to help save money responsibly.

Throw in other attacks going on about the library being in cahoots with the Lakewood Observer, and you see a war against Lakewood, and the library on many, many fronts.

While some like to hide their heads in the sand, and talk of conspiracies, joking of Sammy's through through blindness. The fact is Lakewood is under attack. Lakewood has been on of a few communities singled out as key to the regional empire. Those of us that have taken the time to see past the faux promise of lower taxes through cost savings, see a very ugly future for Lakewood in the regional empire.

Why would anyone want to tie our future to Cleveland and East Cleveland. Are we willing to bet everything that they can get their collectives asses together?

I am not.


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[Bret Callentine]

I'm curious, if Ken is such an iron fisted, tyrannical, thoughtless, ruler, than I'm supposing that the annual employee turnover rate at the library is quite high???

Bill Belichek has been called an unbearably cold hearted coach, but the players rarely complain and they've won multiple championships. So where's the problem?

Our Library is THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!! And until now, I don't recall hearing anything negative about Ken's leadership. So call him whatever you want, but there's no one else I'd rather have in that position.

[Ian Phillips]

I guess that I really managed to upset the We Love Ken Warren Society.

To answer the questions and concerns presented:

1) I do work for Cuyahoga County Public Library and the opinions I express are my own as a resident of Lakewood who happens to be a Librarian (by the way, I love what I do).

2) I was not the un-named source that leaked any info about LPL. I am just a city resident who expressed my concerns in this public forum.

3) I really am a troll. But I am a very cute troll who loves parades and would not rain on them...unless they had bad floats.

I will say this about your responses, with friends like you, it is no wonder the staff of LPL fears speaking out.

[c. dawson]

I do wish everyone would quit raising the spectre of East Cleveland when there's talk of regionalism. Yes, it's a poor city, and yes, it's largely African-American. So therefore, we should all avoid any taints of regionalism because of this? Geez, give it a rest. If folks here are that freakin' afraid of people of a different socioeconomic strata and racial background, then "white flight" it out to Avon Lake, Sheffield, or points farther west. Then folks can live in lovely gated communities of McMansions, hiding in their great rooms.

And frankly, East Cleveland has a hell of a library. Greg Reese, the Director there, has done a remarkable job turning his institution into a community asset, and raising money to provide not only books, but social services to his beleagured but beloved city. They have a top-notch auditorium where concerts are staged, and provide amazing programs to the youth of East Cleveland. If everyone here would quit looking at East Cleveland as "The Ghetto" then you could see that it wouldn't be an albatross around the neck of the region. But that's for a different strand on the board, I realize.

And while there really seems no reason to have the libraries around here be part of the County system, one thing really befuddles me, and that's why Lakewood, or Rocky River, or Westlake libraries aren't part of the Clevenet Consortium. Is it a monetary issue? It was great being able to walk into the Euclid Library or the Cleveland Heights libraries (both strong, independent libraries in brand-new buildings supported by their local communities) and order books from all over the region and have them delivered there, so even if the the local library didn't have the book I wanted, I could get it it from another library at no cost. Why don't we have this in Lakewood? I apologize if this is an old issue, but I'm new here, and I'm really curious. It seems that Lakewood's library is all about access to information and expanding the minds of the citizenry (though the paranoia about the East Cleveland Ghetto boogeyman remains), and yet this major tool for dramatically expanding the collection by opening up the collections of other consortium libraries isn't being offered here? How come?