Library in Turmoil: The Struggle for Justice at Sonoma County Library

Injustice makes all of us angry, but nevermore so than when it arises in a place that's supposed to be safe.

An injustice is taking place at Sonoma County Library (SCL), and it is built upon the back of entrenched power and a lackluster union. While the organization presents a good face to the public, its employees suffer beneath an ineffective and vindictive administration.

At a time when the library system is pushing for more public funding, the lack of public oversight and community engagement creates serious concerns about where and how that money will be used. For instance: will public funds in the library's trust be used to pay for private legal firms retained to harass library employees and union members? Recent evidence says 'yes.'

Mathew Rose, the branch manager of the Sebastopol Library, has been embroiled in a contentious dispute with the Sonoma County Library administration for over a year, and this has revealed a rot at the heart of one of the community's most cherished organizations.

Facing a host of incredibly petty accusations, Rose has suffered through a series of investigations, leading to a massive 573-page dismissal report compiled by a private law firm hired by the administration. A law firm hired with public funds.

Despite widespread community and staff support, including a unanimous vote of confidence in Rose from the Friends of the Sebastopol Library board, he has been targeted by the administration's punitive measures, raising serious concerns about misuse of public funds and administrative overreach.

In an astounding report from Sebastopol Times, Laura Hagar Rush sheds light on the abusive environment fostered by the Sonoma County Library's administration. But, what her report doesn't dive into is that the SCL's own union is a tacit collaborator in this situation, leaving the workers of the SCL system with no hope of defense should the capricious ire of a middle-manager turn in their direction.

This is not a new problem. For decades, the Sonoma County Library (SCL) system's union has proven to be remarkably ineffective. It's easy enough to peer into the union Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and realize just how toothless the organization is. The 'no-strike' clause firmly embedded in the MOU is an obvious example, but the imbalance of power can be found on nearly every page.

Now, in the face of clear administrative misconduct and employee mistreatment, the union's response has been tepid at best.

Throughout the ordeal involving Mathew Rose, Sebastopol's branch manager, union representatives never checked in with staff at the Sebastopol branch. To make matters worse, the union has still not notified its members about what is occurring a full year later, despite various elements of the issue being fully within the public sphere.

This lack of support highlights the risk that all employees of SCL must suffer under. Because the union isn't active in its engagement and organizing, there is no counterbalance to the excesses of the administration. This weakness has allowed the administration to act with impunity, knowing there will be little to no pushback from the union, creating a precarious environment for employees who are left feeling unsupported and vulnerable.

The opaque nature of the SCL administration exacerbates these issues. Decisions are made behind closed doors, with little to no input from the staff or the community. This lack of transparency fosters an environment where questionable practices can thrive unchecked. The administration's hiring of a private law firm to investigate the Sebastopol branch manager, Mathew Rose, is just such an example.

When I worked at SCL, employees were explicitly told that if anyone so much as talked about Mathew's situation, amongst ourselves or with the public, they would be fired. As a new employee, this was demoralizing in the extreme. This directive from the administration created a culture of fear and silence. Employees were too afraid to speak out, ask clarifying questions, or even support their colleague, knowing it could cost them their jobs.

The library administration's tactics in dealing with Mathew have been oppressive and unjust, and their accusations against him are dubious at best. So dubious, in fact, that the Friends of the Sebastopol Library has now publicly expressed “no confidence” in the SCL administration, rebuking their tactics and calling for Rose’s immediate reinstatement. The allegations against Rose, ranging from controlling the library's temperature to avoid employee heat stroke, to accusations of insubordination and "unprofessional conduct," appear exaggerated and trivial when scrutinized.

Friends of the Library board president Susan Fujita stated, “I support Mathew. I love Mathew...we need to let you [the administration] know that it’s not just the few people here that are upset. It’s a lot of the whole area of west county.” This sentiment underscores the widespread dissatisfaction with the SCL administration’s handling of the situation.

Furthermore, the administration's use of public funds to retain a law firm for the investigation into Rose's conduct is deeply troubling. The 573-page dismissal report compiled by Ellis Investigations reads like a farce. As Laura Rush noted in her article for the Sebastopol Times, their accusations seem more suited to a petty office drama than as serious grounds for dismissal.

Furthermore, the partially-disclosed cost of this investigation is troubling. The Sebastopol Times obtained an invoice from Ellis Investigations for $105,000, an utterly irresponsible amount of money to spend during a time when so many municipalities in Sonoma County are struggling financially. While the administration disputes the full amount spent on this attack against Rose, this still raises serious questions about the administration's priorities and their accountability in managing public resources.

Ultimately, the lack of transparency, the weak union, and the administration's oppressive tactics have created a toxic environment at SCL. Employees work under the constant threat of retaliation, unable to speak out against injustices for fear of losing their jobs. The community’s trust is being eroded by an administration that prioritizes secrecy and control over fairness and open communication.

This is heartbreaking. I loved working at the Sebastopol branch.

It's shattering to realize that a few petty administrators can cause so much damage to our communities.

And, it can't be allowed to continue.

It is imperative that the SCL administration be held accountable for their actions.

There needs to be greater transparency and public oversight to ensure that the library system serves its employees and the community with integrity and fairness.

The current state of affairs at SCL is a stark reminder of what happens when power goes unchecked and voices are silenced.

The community and the library employees deserve better, and it is time for a change.