Berman Titles Disappear, HCL Denies Formal Recall

Staff -- Library Journal, 2/21/2000

The ongoing conflict between the Hennepin County Library (HCL) and its former Head Cataloger Sandy Berman has heated up as five Berman-authored titles have disappeared mysteriously from the Minnesota library system's catalog and shelves at some locations. Nine other titles, to which Berman contributed, remain unaffected. Supporters of Berman, who retired last April in protest over his reassignment, claim that this action is proof of "an attempt to further purge Sandy and his influence," although HCL vehemently denied the accusation, stating that there was no formal recall of Berman-related titles. Berman, however, told LJDigital that HCL has "plausible motives of vengeance and retribution for my persistent quest for personal justice and questions about HCL's deteriorating cataloging operation."