
City-County Council appoints Eugene White to Indianapolis library board
The City-County Council unanimously approved the appointment of White, the former superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools and president of Martin University.
The City-County Council unanimously approved the appointment of White, the former superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools and president of Martin University.
TD Robinson, the senior pastor of Mt. Paran Baptist Church, has resigned from the Indianapolis Public Library Board amid an ongoing controversy over the selection of a new library CEO.
The National Conference of African American Librarians has decided not to hold its annual convention in Indianapolis this year after one of its leaders was passed over for the job of CEO at the Indianapolis Public Library.
A letter signed Thursday by 16 city-county councilors is urging the Indianapolis Public Library Board to offer Nichelle Hayes the position of CEO following community outrage that she was passed over.
With their search for a new CEO for the library system mired in controversy, members of the Indianapolis Public Library’s Board of Trustees heard withering criticism from community members at their meeting Monday night.
Morley declined the CEO job following pushback from community members who favored interim CEO Nichelle Hayes in that role.
The Indianapolis Public Library named Gabriel Morley the new CEO of the library system Thursday evening despite protests from library union members, former employees and disagreement among board members.
The approval of the leadership change came as the Indianapolis Public Library’s board of trustees met for the first time since the release of a lengthy “climate” report examining the library system’s inner workings following allegations of racism.
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday unanimously approved funding of nearly $30 million for new Fort Benjamin Harrison and Glendale library branches.
The announcement of Jackie Nytes’ impending departure comes after allegations of racial discrimination within the library system and claims of a negative work environment.
The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, announced Monday it will withhold funds from the Indianapolis Public Library system until it completes a planned climate survey and makes “significant, meaningful and measurable” changes.
Indianapolis Public Library system said it is seeking a new financing plan after costs grew beyond the budget cap of $12 million for each project.
The application period opens Tuesday for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which will reimburse libraries and schools for the purchase of laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hot spots.
Some other employees and a former trustee interviewed by IBJ also say library management and board members have not fully and appropriately dealt with such matters in a constructive, public way.
Starting on Dec. 21, the Indianapolis Public Library’s branches will restrict in-person services to curbside pickup and limited computer use. Browsing for books won’t be permitted.
The Indianapolis Public Library plans to acquire land from the Washington Township school district as part of a years-long effort to build a new Glendale-area branch to replace the one in Glendale Town Center.
The money would be directed toward needs at the West Perry, Pike and Nora branches, plus the library’s Center for Black Literature and Culture digital project.
The library shut down all its physical locations at the end of the day Saturday. This, plus the fact that many patrons are home from work or school, has created a big bump in demand for digital materials.
The library said it plans to reopen on April 6 but will monitor conditions and remain closed for a longer period if need be. Due dates will be extended until the library reopens.
The Indianapolis Public Library has reached an agreement in principle to close its Fountain Square branch in May so the not-for-profit literacy organization can move its bookstore to the space this summer.