Griffin Leaves Berkeley PL in Settlement

-- Library Journal, 6/14/2006

Jackie Griffin, the embattled director of the Berkeley Public Library, CA, resigned after a settlement agreement announced June 8. The five-year veteran, who had threatened to sue the city if she were terminated, will get $34,451, about three months' salary, health benefits for six months, and airfare and expenses to support her trip to the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. Former Sonoma County library director Roger Pearson has been named interim director. "There were many dozens and dozens of people complaining about how things were being managed by this one person," said Councilmember Kriss Worthington, according to the Oroville Mercury-Register. Also, 77 of the 120 library's union employees signed a no-confidence statement regarding Griffin. Charges that Griffin retaliated against some union members are under investigation. "She does have significant skills," Worthington said. "This particular librarian with this particular library was not the best fit. It doesn't mean she is a horrible librarian." Griffin, who said she was not threatened with termination, said she was “pleased and honored to have worked at Berkeley” and “pleased with the settlement we came to.”