Report Slams Atlanta-Fulton PL

A consultant's report on the troubled Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (AFPLS) has reinforced the grumbles of employees, portraying a system plagued by mistrust and low morale, undermined by a volatile director and micromanaging board.

The equal employment opportunity audit was commissioned last fall after the library, which lost an $18 million discrimination suit, saw another set of grievances filed by two plaintiffs (see News, LJ 11/15/03, p. 18). In the 37-page report by the law firm of Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson, staffers complained that Director Mary Kaye Hooker has a tendency "to lead through fear, threats and intimidation" and that "she either lacks the ability to lead effectively or lacks the knowledge and/or skills to manage a library."

The suit was won by eight white librarians, but in the report a wide variety of staff accused the board of favoritism and said promotions were unfairly awarded and evaluations were used vindictively for personal reasons.

Even those satisfied with their jobs reported low morale, owing to their inability to serve the public properly. They cited insufficient equipment, lack of materials, a slow acquisitions process, and, especially, balky computers. Such problems should be the simplest to resolve, the report observes.

While the $112,000 report was commissioned by the board, a devastating footnote essentially argues for major board reform. It says that the 17-member board—which is involved in all personnel decisions—exercises more control over day-to-day matters than the boards of most corporations, even though it experiences more turnover and board members are not necessarily familiar with library operations.

County Commission chair Karen Handel told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "There is no question we need a complete change in leadership there." While the report calls for the board to delegate more hiring to the director and for the director to undergo management and sensitivity training, it does not address changing the board composition.

Legislation to cut the board to nine and have the director report to the county manager has passed the Georgia Senate but remains stalled in the House, the Journal-Constitution reported. In an editorial February 5, the newspaper endorsed the pending legislation, said the current board should be disbanded, and said Hooker "probably should be removed."

A settlement has been reached in a second lawsuit (see News, LJ 1/04, p. 20) against the AFPLS, filed by employees Mary Starck and Maureen Kelly, plaintiffs also in the previous case. The suit charged both discrimination and retaliation. Kelly protested a transfer and Starck protested the denial of a job—she had been the preferred candidate and eventually was chosen after filing a grievance.

The librarians' attorney, Chris Anulewicz, confirmed that the suit was settled for $250,000 but declined to provide further details. He said he expected Kelly to stay in her current position.