Marisa Giuliani (left) and Laura Murray are both expecting layoff notices as the Peterborough Public Library carries through with a staff restructuring. (Photo: Will Pearson)
The union representing local library workers is voicing concerns about a planned staff restructuring at the Peterborough Public Library (PPL).
“The loss of these roles will negatively affect families and communities who depend on the library, its services, and its programs just as much as it will impact all of us working here,” stated Patricia Scoffield, the union president, in the press release. She mentioned this is the first time in her thirty years with the library that layoffs have occurred.
Library CEO Jennifer Jones directed inquiries to City of Peterborough spokesperson Brendan Wedley, who claimed that library services would remain unaffected by the changes. “There will be no cuts to programming,” Wedley asserted.
The restructuring will ultimately lead to a net reduction of only one full-time equivalent position within a workforce comprising around 50 employees since two new positions are also being created, according to Wedley.
However, library workers argue that services will indeed feel the effects of this restructuring and claim that the new roles may not appeal to current staff as much as their existing positions do.
Scoffield noted PPL currently employs four librarians. One handles managing the library’s collections while another oversees its information systems including the catalog. The remaining two librarians focus on developing and delivering programming for PPL-one dedicated to children’s activities and another to adult and teen offerings.
The programming librarians are responsible for initiatives such as the Parent-Child Mother Goose early literacy program along with the One Book, One Peterborough city-wide reading challenge.
Under this new staffing plan, both programming librarian roles will be eliminated and replaced by one higher-paid librarian overseeing programs for all ages alongside a new lower-paid assistant role meant for program delivery. (At present, there are two assistants; after this change, there would be three.)
The position held by the librarian managing PPL’s information systems will also be removed with those responsibilities transferred to other team members. The role overseeing PPL’s collections is not affected by layoffs.
Children’s Librarian: “I feel like I’ve been pushed out”
Laura Murray is among those facing layoffs. With about 15 years at PPL under her belt, she serves currently as their children’s programming librarian-a focus she pursued during her graduate studies.
“In any library that I would ever work at, this is the position that I would want,” she said regarding her current role. She finds fulfillment in witnessing positive impacts on young people and families when teaching lullabies and stories so parents can share them with their children at home. Plus, she loves kids: “They’re always teaching me something new,” she commented. “They’re hilarious. And they’re so open and honest and creative.”
Murray expressed little interest in either of the newly created positions meant to replace her role along with another programming librarian’s position.
The higher-paying option may offer better financial rewards but lacks focus on children’s activities; it’s too administrative for her taste since it wouldn’t allow enough direct interaction with families during programs.”
If she chooses instead to take on an assistant role-a decision which involves taking a pay cut-she would still engage directly with families but miss out on aspects like research or evaluating her programs’ effectiveness due to reduced leadership responsibilities. “I wouldn’t be able to have that same leadership or responsibility,” she added.
This leaves Murray feeling stuck without appealing options: “I feel like I’ve been pushed out.”
A library missing Murray would mean “a huge loss” for community members like Adina Muskat who participates in children’s events regularly.
“Attending the Parent-Child Mother Goose program with my infant was one of my maternity leave highlights,” Muskat remarked about how valuable Murray’s facilitation was throughout those experiences.”
“Laura has an exceptional ability to connect with everyone,” Muskat noted further.”I can’t imagine what it’ll look like without her around.”
Another participant named Victoria Kopf described losing Murray as “devastating” for local resources provided by libraries tailored towards young families.”As a new mom bringing my baby boy into these programs recently, I value Laura’s experience tremendously”,”Kopf stated”Her curation skills are simply unmatched.”
Kopf pondered how many parents’ experiences surrounding early childhood interactions might differ if not shaped directly via programs offered specifically through Laura’s involvement.”
Murray echoed sadness over potentially losing such an essential children’s librarian position altogether.”It’s disheartening thinking about how we could lose this vital role within our public library,”she voiced”But more than anything, I don’t want this crucial role eliminated.”
Council approved layoffs amid budget discussions
City councilors mandated staff implement restructuring plans during discussions related to municipal budgeting projected across 2025.
City officials did not initially suggest such changes when presenting draft budgets back in November 2024. Instead, it appeared listed only among supplemental methods considered towards curtailing proposed increases placed upon property taxes. During deliberations , city representatives explained eliminating two roles plus reclassifying certain others downwards was necessary just so they could maintain basic operational outputs plus service deliveries.
Details concerning specific organizational shifts were kept from public view until further notice came following approvals granted alongside council meetings where Coun. Kevin Duguay motioned approval which passed through votes resulting favorably seven-to-four outcomes.(See full results reflected within ‘Peterborough Currents’ City Council Vote Tracker.)
Within discourse, Coun. Matt Crowley-serving additionally upon board connected intricately linked back toward libraries- articulated discomfort regarding job eliminations explaining”The idea doesn’t sit well but decisions arrive tough given circumstances”. Nonetheless , he aligned himself voting yes along counterparts backing firings.
Alternative options existed presented earlier involving diminishing hours devoted solely toward operations rather than impacting jobs held firmly intact yet proposals fell short finding favor amongst key decision-makers left pursuing pathways eliminating needed personnel.
Ultimately councils approved allocations intended surpassing roughly $4 million budget slated covering various costs associated opening up newer branches alongside ongoing tech upgrades pressed heavily driving numbers upward.
Workplace uncertainty looms large
Per CUPE Local 1833 agreements put into place regarding conditions surrounding dismissals outlined protocols requiring affected individuals allowed displace less-senior colleagues thus retaining employment opportunities elsewhere–referred commonly known industry-wide ‘bumping’.
This process potentially triggers cascades leading downward eventually instilling feelings unease felt broadly across represented membership prompting anxieties regarding overall job stability, reiterated Scoffield.
“People don’t know if they’re going get bumped or not”, she stated emphasizing realities faced every worker aside from executive level leaders whom remain untouched within current agreement frameworks established therein.
Those employed exceeding five-year marks must receive six months notification ahead prior confirming potential separations. Scoffield indicated management has yet formally issue said notifications suggesting actual dismissals cannot occur until mid-October twenty-five respectively.
Currents reached out seeking clarification from spokesman Wedley addressing likelihood achieving anticipated savings tied against projected seventy-two-thousand mark laid-out given required notice periods abiding lawfully enforced collective practices instituted beforehand stated intentions moving forward complying restructure goals set forth previously stipulated resolved council directives.”
Scoffield urges preserving valued librarian postings while leveraging reserves established covering expected deficits accrued during annual budgeting cycles. A report issued February twenty-five illustrates approximately four hundred seventy-thousand surplus reserves earmarked mitigating possible losses accordingly aiding reconciliation attempts aimed correlating shortfalls arising outside standard operating procedures achieved successfully year-round consistently handled consistently.”
