Rye Free Reading Room Librarian Could Lose Her Job

They say you can’t tell a book by its cover.

But it’s easy to read the impact of the on the Rye Free Reading Room’s more than $1 million in annual funding.

First the library was forced to close on Sundays and now, with already reduced staffing levels, the library is contemplating further staff layoffs.

Bettyjane Surabian, one of the Rye Free Reading Room’s most popular librarians, is afraid she is about to lose her library job due to the budget crunch.

That loss would cost Surabian her medical benefits, and that lack of income could well cost Surabian her home, she said.

She is afraid that the ax will fall shortly because the library’s Board of Directors has filed a letter of intent with her union to trim one full-time librarian from the staff as a cost-cutting device.

As the library’s most recent hire, Surabian, who organizes teen programming for the library, believes her job is in jeopardy.

The library’s shop steward informed Surabian of the notice of intent, which has 30 days before it goes into effect.

The 30 days will be up Feb. 5, with February ironically the month Surabian started at the library four years ago, just one week after the shop steward, Donna Harvey, a children’s room librarian, started at the library. Since seniority is a consideration, Surabian could be laid off because she was the most recent hire.

Ms. Harvey says she had a sleepless night when she received the e-mail from the Board, and couldn’t bear to tell Surabian personally. So she sent her the notice by e-mail.

“It was like somebody punched me in the stomach to read that news in an e-mail,” Surabian said. “I was and am worried sick. Without a full-time job, I will lose my medical benefits and could well lose my home in this economic climate. I do know my union is negotiating on my behalf.”

Negotiations are underway between library board members, the library’s new executive director, Kitty Little, and a union official to see whether the full-time librarian’s position can be saved.

John Gentile, who represents the library's Port Chester-based union, Local 1103 of the Communication Workers of America, has been discussing ways to save the job with Debra Julian, president of the library’s Board of Directors, Board Trustee James R. Billingsley, Jr. and Ms. Little.

Their next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24.

The negotiations are going on in the midst of an economic downturn that has changed the rules of conduct in union negotiations, causing both management and the unions to make concessions in order to avoid inevitable layoffs.

In the meantime, some library patrons are reportedly organizing a petition drive to save Surabian’s job.

Surabian, a classically trained pianist who has a master’s degree in Library Science from Mercy College and 20 years of editing experience as a former assistant editor for the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature, said she is unsure of what will happen next month.

“Ironically, I left that job to join the library because I wanted a position with more job security and better health benefits,” she said. “Now I have my fingers crossed about what’s going to happen next, but I’m not optimistic. As much as I love what I am doing here, it doesn't look good.”