By Scott Nicholson
Two weeks after Watauga County head librarian John Blake
says he was forced to resign, he is still searching for
answers, as are some local library supporters.
All local library board members either had no comment or
failed to return phone calls as of press time, though several
who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed surprise at
Blake’s resignation.
There was apparently no board vote before Blake was asked
to resign and the board’s bylaws appear contradictory
in making personnel decisions. One section gives all personnel
decisions to the local library board while the director
makes recommendations.
Louise Humphrey, director of the three-county Appalachian
Regional Library System, said after Blake’s resignation
that she had no comment and was solely responsible for personnel
decisions. Calls to Humphrey and the regional library system’s
legal representative were not returned as of press time.
Watauga County’s library board members include chairwoman
Jean Czermak, Hugh Hagaman, Audrey Hartley and George Holloway,
who also serve on the 12-member regional library board.
Other county board members are county commissioner Billy
Ralph Winkler, Dot Barker, Cindy Ball, Joseph Bathanti and
Tish Rokoske.
Blake said he appreciated the kindness of the community
and wanted his staff to know he did nothing wrong.
“It pains me that that my board did not do more to
find out the reality of my situation,” Blake said.
“I would have expected more from them and have no idea
what role they played in my situation.”
Gail Bedell, president of the Watauga Literacy Association,
said, “I was shocked and quite disappointed to learn
of the forced resignation of Watauga County head librarian
John Blake and want the community to know why.”
Bedell noted that Blake served on the literary association’s
board. “Our mission is to support literacy by provided
trained volunteer tutors for people in our area wishing
to improve their basic math, reading, and home/ workplace
literacy skills,” Bedell said. “John did more
than sit on the board. He proved to be an encouraging, resourceful,
and selfless part of our team--truly dedicated to literacy
and his community.
“And since most of our activities are held after-hours,
John assisted us on his own time. When he could have been
home with his family, John was helping with everything from
audio/visuals, to advice on Web searching, to active participation
in tutor training workshops and activities. Moreover, under
John’s direction, the library staff connected several
inquirers with WLA so they could get the help they wanted--and
how fitting for a community library. It would be a shame,
in my opinion, for Boone and Watauga County to lose such
a dedicated, resourceful, and hardworking community servant.”
Shelby Lane, head of the Watauga County Library Endowment
Fund and a former member of the local library’s board
of directors, said, “I think the whole thing could
have been handled better.”
Lane said the library’s bylaws are contradictory because
one section gives the regional directory the authority to
hire and fire while another section says a majority vote
of the board is required before removing a county librarian.
She hopes a clarification of the bylaws emerges from the
controversy.
One section of the bylaws states, “County Boards: Each
County Local Library Board will review and approve or disapprove
actions that affect the library system in their county,
including all budget and personnel matters, and recommend
action to the ARLB. No ARLB action is to be taken specifically
pertaining to a library system without the prior consent
of the county library board.”
The bylaws don’t give specific firing powers to the
regional director. The bylaws say, “The Director shall
be the chief executive and administrative officer of the
ARL and have sole charge of administering the ARL in accordance
with approved policies of the ARLB. The bylaws read “The
Director shall be responsible for recommending to the ARLB
the hiring new and/or dismissal of employees.”
Blake said he wished his staff well and said his tenure
had been difficult under Humphrey, whom he characterized
as a “micromanager.”
“As for my library board, I am very disappointed that
they aren’t more interested in the facts of the situation,
but at times like this boards tend to duck and cover and
circle the wagons,” Blake said.
“I’ve seen it many times before. Everyone is afraid
of being sued.”
Blake said “all options were on the table” regarding
pursuing a grievance in court.
According to the bylaws, the Appalachian Regional Library
Board exists “at the pleasure” of the county commissioners
in each county. The bylaws don’t spell out procedures
for the hiring or dismissal of either county head librarians
or the regional director.
“To Watauga, you’ve lost an honest and caring
library leader and I wish you the best,” Blake said.
“Am I angry and bitter? Oh, sure. No one would want
to be treated like this, but to be honest, the wrong person
was forced out.”
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