Extra
Pat Mullan, Retired Head of BPL Art and Music; Andrea Segal, Former Reference Librarian; Diane Davenport, Former BPL Head of Reference; Roya Arasteh, Former BPL Staff; Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council
Tuesday August 11, 2015 - 06:18:00 PM
Explosive new documents reveal an illegal and unethical cover up of the destruction of tens of thousands of books/items from the Berkeley Public Library (BPL) in 2015. This unedited list of 13,850 deleted last copies validates librarians and former librarians concerns about the inaccuracy of the library director’s claim that only 2,200 books have been discarded this year. Additional computer printouts are also available revealing that over 39,000 books/items were deleted in 2015.
Retired Librarians, Authors, and booklovers will unite in reading from a newly released list of 13,850 titles of last copies deleted from the BPL. The complete list of last copies and the computer printout will be released at the event, and will be available by email.
Wednesday August 12 12 noon to 1pm
In front of the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge Street, Berkeley
ILLEGAL: The Library Director violated state law by failing to respond in a timely way and by failing to provide most of the documents requested in two California Public Records Act (PRA) requests. After the Library Director refused to release details in response to numerous emails, a Bay Area News Group correspondent and a Berkeley High School student both wrote PRA’s.
WASTE: Books that could have been donated to community groups or the public have not been made available to Berkeley or Bay Area groups. Prominent community groups such as the Maya Angelou Library and Literacy Center are urgently seeking books but are not allowed to save these books from disposal. Even the Friends of the Library did not get to review many books available for donation.
FRAUD: Numerous emails from the Library Director have falsely informed residents leading them to believe that only a small percentage of books/items have been deleted. However, as a result of the recently exposed documents, it is evident that the vast discrepancy between the alleged 2,200 and the actual 39,140 books/items deleted is drastic.
ABUSE: Concerned volunteers who asked questions have been called disparaging names and librarians have been threatened that if they continue to speak out they “will be held accountable.” Knowledgeable librarians whom are skilled in the procedure of weeding books, have been unceremoniously yanked out of the decision making process. Many books are being disposed of so rapidly that subject experts do not even get to review the merits of that list.
CONTACTS: Pat Mullan, Retired Head of BPL Art and Music:
Andrea Segal, Former Reference Librarian:
Diane Davenport, Former BPL Head of Reference:
Roya Arasteh, Former BPL Staff:
Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council
