Rye Free Reading Room Librarian Will Not Be Laid Off

It was either a good news or bad news weekend on the job front at the depending on whom you asked.

The library lost two part-time librarians, but spared the job of full-time librarian Bettyjane Surabian.

On Friday, reference desk librarian Cindy Vandenberg resigned and children's librarian Megan Day was let go. However, Surabian, the popular teen services librarian who would have been laid off on Feb. 5, will continue to work at the Rye Free Reading Room.

The job cuts left Surabian stunned because she felt somewhat culpable for her two colleagues’ job loss.

“It’s not fun to feel indirectly responsible for others losing their jobs. Long after others have forgotten, I’ll remember that,” she said.

“My profound thanks for everyone who fought for me is coupled with dismay at seeing our library having difficulties meeting the public service demands that the community deserves,” Surabian added.

Vandenburg, who worked at the reference desk one day a week , offered to leave if it helped save Surabian’s job. Day, who was still in the probationary phase according to a union representative, worked three days a week at the library. She needed the Rye Free Reading Room job, but was told the library had no more hours for her, according to library sources.

The latest job reductions showed the ongoing impact of the on the library’s more than $1 million annual funding.

First the library was , and with already reduced staffing levels, the library’s board said it had no choice but to contemplate further staff layoffs.

In January, Surabian was informed about a notice of intent the library’s board filed with her union, stating it would have to lay off one full-time librarian in 30 days to save money. Surabian, who began working at the library four years ago, had the least seniority so her job would have been eliminated.

that she was worried about losing her health insurance and that being laid off could force her to lose her home. However, Surabian is still working at the library thanks to many of its patrons, who organized a petition drive to help save her job.

Negotiations are underway between Debra Julian, president of the library’s Board of Directors, trustee James R. Billingsley, Jr., the library’s new executive director Kitty Little and union official John Gentile to explore other cost-cutting options.

Little said despite the cutbacks the library will continue to provide service to residents through the generosity of the community and the efforts of its staff.

"Our remaining staff will be shifting assignments to offer the best possible services within these new limitations. So many of our highest demand programs are funded by the generosity of the Rye community through our Auxiliary Board and others. These will continue with little change," she said.

Gentile said there was a slim possibility of “call backs,” meaning those let go could still be called back to work. However, that is unlikely given the library’s current financial crunch.