[Summit] 5 Minutes for Rochambeau Library?

[Julie McCoy]

Correction:

Sorry, but I mistyped the email address for letters to Projo. The correct
address is:

letters at providencejournal.com (no period between "providence" and "journal")

Thanks so much,
Julie

On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 11:14 AM, Julie McCoy <jmccoy49 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Neighbors,
>
>
>
> I’m writing both as your neighbor and as a member of the board of the
> Friends of Rochambeau Library. I ask for your help in reversing an
> appalling, destructive decision that may affect the lives of many people in
> the Summit neighborhood.
>
>
>
> Rochambeau Library serves our community not only as a rich source of
> books, DVDs, and other materials but also as a community center for great
> programs, including courses, discussion and activity groups, musical
> performances, children’s events, and—most recently, with the installation
> of a state-of-the-art HD theater system—film presentations. All these
> programs are, of course, offered *without charge* to everyone in the
> community.
>
>
>
> Most of us are aware of the difficult financial times the Providence
> community libraries are experiencing. Many of us have responded by joining
> the Friends of Rochambeau Library, and that has certainly made a positive
> impact on our library’s situation.
>
>
>
> Now, however, a new issue—this one having nothing to do with
> finances—threatens Rochambeau Library. Tom O’Donnell, who has served as the
> library’s manager since March 2009, has been arbitrarily fired from his
> position by Laura Marlane, the executive director of Providence Community
> Library (PCL, the entity that oversees all the branch libraries). Ms.
> Marlane acted entirely on her own, citing Tom for “insubordination” but
> refusing to provide any further information.
>
>
>
> Tom’s performance as the library’s manager has been stellar. Under his
> leadership, the library’s services have expanded in line with the
> community’s best interests. Not only has Tom seen the big picture and
> pursued significant, well-chosen goals; he has also been consistently
> available to assist and inform individuals who seek him out and has been
> invariably receptive to ideas for expansion and enhancement of the
> library’s offerings. His stewardship of the library’s resources has been
> impeccable.
>
>
>
> This past Monday evening, many members of the community attended the PCL
> board meeting in South Providence to protest Tom’s firing. The people who
> spoke powerfully about Tom’s flawlessly fantastic performance over the
> years ranged from a young girl who recalled Tom’s reading books to her as a
> small child to a senior citizen with abundant managerial experience who
> volunteers in the library every day it’s open and is familiar with every
> aspect of its operation. All testified to Tom’s extraordinary commitment,
> creativity, energy, generosity, kindness, and community awareness. Asher
> Schofield, president of the Hope Street Merchants Association, emphasized
> the countless ways in which Tom has worked to connect the neighborhood and
> its businesses with the library and its activities. Wil Gregersen, a
> librarian at the Warwick Public Library, spoke of Tom’s remarkable
> achievements and recounted how Tom’s input has contributed to his own
> professional development. Other community members supplied examples of
> Tom’s outstanding performance throughout his tenure as well as personal
> anecdotes illustrating Tom’s deep commitment to Rochambeau Library and our
> community.
>
>
>
> In short, Tom O’Donnell’s contributions to Rochambeau Library and the
> Summit neighborhood are legion, and his removal is entirely arbitrary and
> unwarranted. He is a fine person whose commitment to our community’s
> interest and well-being has enhanced our lives and, on his reinstatement,
> will continue to do so. I urge those of you who care about the library and
> its mission to take just 5 or 10 minutes to write a brief note on his
> behalf to any or all of the following (or others):
>
>
>
> Laura Marlane and the PCL board: PO Box 9267, Providence RI 02940;
> http://www.provcomlib.org/contact/contact.php
>
>
>
>  Mayor Angel Taveras: 25 Dorrance Street, Providence 02903;
> https://www.providenceri.com/mayor/contact
>
>
>
> Representative Gordon Fox: Gordon at GordonFox.com
>
>
>
> The Providence Journal: Letters to the Editor, The Providence Journal, 75
> Fountain St., Providence 02902; letters at providence.journal.com (for
> instructions, see http://news.providencejournal.com/letters-to-the-editor/
> )
>
>
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read this email and for joining your
> neighbors and other friends of Rochambeau in taking action to right this
> egregious wrong and to keep our library and our community moving in the
> most positive direction.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julie McCoy
>
>
>
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