[il-talk] Fw: peoria talking book staff layoffs

[Patti Gregory-Chang]

I am sorry to share this news with all of you.


May 17, 2010
>
> RE: Change in ALS Core Services
>
>
> Dear ALS family and friends,
>
> I have sad but significant news. Due to the Illinois financial situation, 
> the Alliance Library System will be changing its core services 
> dramatically effective Monday, May 31, 2010.
>
> ALS new core services will be:
>
> ·        the delivery of materials, which currently accounts for more than 
> 1 million items annually.
>
> ·        supporting RSA and resource sharing.
>
>
>
> There will no longer be:
>
> ·        Continuing education and consulting services.
>
> ·        Marketing, advocacy, or library promotional services.
>
> ·        Innovation and grant development services.
>
> ·        Web services.
>
>
>
> MITBC services will be suspended until funding is re-established.
>
>
>
> More than 80% of ALS funding originates from an annual grant from the 
> Illinois General Assembly distributed through Secretary of State Jesse 
> White's office. Library systems have not had a budget increase in more 
> than 20 years, and last August, we received a 16½% budget cut.  To date, 
> ALS has not received 42% ($668,206) of the money owed to it for the fiscal 
> year ending June 30.  The talking book service has not received 97% of its 
> annual funding ($252,618) . ALS is almost out of money. Under these 
> conditions, we cannot continue to offer our members the service they 
> expect and deserve.
>
>
>
> Last Friday truly was a sad day. On behalf of the ALS Executive Committee, 
> I called together the wonderful ALS, RSA and MITBC staffs to announce that 
> 22 ALS and MITBC staff will be laid off as of Friday, May 28.
>
>
>
> All ALS IT support staff and all ALS Consulting and CE staff positions 
> will be eliminated.  All MITBC staff will be on temporary layoff (meaning 
> no salary or benefits, but the possibility of a recall) and suspending 
> talking book services until funding returns.  ALS will streamline delivery 
> without affecting the frequency
>
>
>
> During the next two weeks, Kendal, Paul, Morgan and I will be focused 
> totally on assisting staff with applying for unemployment insurance, 
> seeking alternate employment, investigating re-training/education options, 
> and retirement procedures.
>
>
>
> Our goal is to help every staff member find a soft landing.
>
>
>
> You have done everything possible to help us turn this situation around. 
> The ALS board, library members, staff, friends, and family have fought for 
> our survival and rallied behind us on numerous occasions. Thank you for 
> participating in our campaigns, contacting legislators and supporting our 
> cooperative efforts. Unfortunately, we have run out of options; the storm 
> is upon us, and we are in survival mode. Other Illinois library systems 
> are on different time lines as to when they will run out of money, but 
> they are all in trouble.  There is no safe harbor from this storm.
>
>
>
> Personally, I am humbled by your support and words of kindness in this 
> tsunami of change; they are much appreciated. I am particularly grateful 
> to ALS president John Richmond who, throughout this mess, has been 
> visionary, supportive, and so very kind
>
>
>
> To my co-workers at ALS: Never before have I been so privileged to work 
> with such an impassioned and visionary group of folks. You made coming to 
> work an adventure. Wherever you land, whatever you do, I hope that the 
> passion and team spirit that you brought to Alliance every single day will 
> be reborn in your new adventure.
>
> You are simply the best!
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
>
>
> Kitty Pope
>
> Executive Director
>
>
>
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