Library staff reductions could hit 35
9/1/2009The Toledo-Lucas County library will lay off between 30 to 35 of their 345 union and exempt staff, officials said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
As many as 13 of the staff reductions could come from retirements, library spokesman Rhonda Sewell said. Library staff have until Nov. 30 to take a one-time retirement incentive.
Library Director Clyde Scoles was not immediately available for comment.
The library board voted last week to address financial woes by slicing branch hours to about eight per day and reducing most branches to five days a week. The reduced hours are effective Oct. 4. The new hours will bring staffing down from two shifts to one.
Layoffs for unionized staff will be based on seniority. The librarians' union has 94 members with 83 employed full time and 11 part time. Hourly pay for members starts at $15.34 and goes up to $30.80 for those with a master's degree and at least nine years' experience.
The union representing circulation clerks and other workers has about 160 members on a pay scale ranging from $13.72 to $21.32 per hour.
Among exempt staff, the highest paid is the director, Mr. Scoles. His annual salary is $178,087. Margaret Danziger, the deputy director, is paid $139,249.
Salaries of library branch managers range from $59,000 to $97,000. Supervisors are paid $34,000 to $54,000. And many other administrators are paid $47,000 to $100,000 a year.