Letter to the Editor

Former PCPL director speaks on his dismissal

Thursday, September 19, 2019

To the Editor:

I love Putnam County and its people. I write this because I feel that there is misunderstanding about my dismissal as library director. As I visit Greencastle and see people I recognize from my time as director, I am often approached with looks of suspicion and/or discomfort. I hope this will help people understand that I did nothing terribly wrong.

On July 3 past, my life was flipped sideways. In the absence of the board president (with whom I had worked most closely), two members of the Putnam County Library’s board of trustees walked into my work office at the library and told me that the board had chosen not to renew my contract as director of the library.

In shock, my first thought was to consider what offense I had committed for them to reach this decision. Two months later and many hours of pondering later, I still do not fully understand the decision. I took a large cut in income to accept the position one year earlier. I spent 45-60 hours a week promoting the library to the community and tackling a variety of issues. I gave the library and the community everything I had to give.

I admit that I was not fully prepared to answer all of the board’s questions at board meetings, but I answered those questions within the following two days via emails. I also admit that, to the point of my release, I had not fully learned Indiana’s budget preparation process. In my defense, however, the upcoming budget was the first that I had been personally involved with.

The question I have never been able to answer in all my ponderings is whether those two offenses are reasonable justification for cutting me loose in consideration of the other things that were accomplished under my tutelage.

Within a week after my start as director, I was faced with healing a staff that had been deeply fractured by an internal, hostile event. It took many months, but I felt that healing was happening with the exception of one holdout, the business manager. Within five months of my appointment, we had an elevator emergency and computer server breakdown that occurred nearly simultaneously. Those issues were dealt with and were solved.

While these crises were dealt with, I had the opportunity to hire some excellent new staff members who have been instrumental in the continuity of the library since my release. I also spent many hours working with the community and setting up events to learn the community’s desires for the county and its library.

Returning to July 3, I was informed that my last day at work would be the following week and that, if I were to resign, I would forfeit a severance that might be offered. That severance eventually became an offer to continue my pay until Sept. 1 with benefits. My rough estimate is that, with benefits, it likely monetizes to about $12,000-$12,500. The offer was given with no written record to fall back on had it been reneged (which they did not). As I was given only a half week notice before termination, I am grateful for the assistance. Especially given the $30,000 in improvements we will lose on the sale of our home … if we can sell it.

I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to meet and serve with the people of Putnam County. I was blessed to be accepted into the community and treated with such kindness and love by so many.

Putnam County deserves a great library and I strived to lead it toward a future including more ebooks, online movies and TV shows. The library budget is very tight and I had begun working on fundraising to afford more services. I am very sorry that I was not given time to bring it to fruition.

Thank you to the staff who were willing to change and are so willing to try new things. Thank you, Putnam County, for being so supportive of me and the library. When we meet, I hope you will feel comfortable smiling and greeting me as an old friend. I certainly consider you the same.

Brian Briscoe

Greencastle