By Mary Corrado
Editor
Many readers have called to express concern about the destruction of the video collection at Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave. (If you missed the articles, visit insideonline.com and go to “News” where you’ll find the May 4-10 issue under “Recent Issues.” Read "CPL trashes award-winning Sulzer video collection to celebrate 20th year" and "History of affronts to Sulzer.") Here's an update on what is going on and what readers who oppose the situation can do.
The elimination of specialists at Sulzer Regional Library has been even more severe than Inside reported. Librarians have several ranks, from Lib I to Lib V, with the most highly qualified specialists being Lib V. Inside revealed that Sulzer no longer has any Lib V staff, now that one-time assistant director Neil O'Shea was transferred out and then retired. In reality, all the Lib IV staff is also gone: Dorena Wenger- Newspapers and Magazines; Ruth Ketchum- Business, Science and Technology; Hyonah Ahn- Media; Kathryn Penares- Social Sciences and History; Michael Leonard- Humanities; Kathleen O'Meara- Children's. These were all unit heads.
Mayor Richard M. Daley has asked Mary Dempsey to take a leave from her position as Chicago Public Library Commissioner for about six months in order to help straighten out illegal matters in City contracts. During this time, the Acting CPL Commissioner is Karen Danczak Lyons. Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) "soon" will be meeting with her to address the video purge at Sulzer. Inside will report on that meeting as soon as it happens.
Concerned citizens have several avenues to follow. Visit insideonline.com and print copies of the two articles about the video purge and the history of affronts to Sulzer, and distribute these. Let the Mayor know how you feel, by calling 311 and directing the operator to pass your words on to him. Since the library is in the 47th Ward, call Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) at (773) 348-8400. Call the Acting CPL Commissioner, Karen Danczak Lyons, at (312) 747-4018; her office is imposing the video purge and other affronts to Sulzer.
In addition, send a letter to the editor to Inside (inside@britsys.net or 4159 N. Western Ave., 2nd floor, Chicago, 60618), to the Chicago Tribune, and to the Sun-Times. Be sure to read the letters about the purge in today's issue on page 9. |
