Library director was never told why she was fired

Editor:

I have never written a letter to an editor before because I prefer to have my privacy. However, it is important to have my story told. I want it to be known what has happened to me.

I was library director of the Havre-Hill County Library until March 25. To my unbelievable shock, about 4:30 that afternoon, four of the five board members came into my office, told me to sit down and tossed a letter on my desk. It was a letter of release as library director. I had no warning or reasons why. They told me that they couldn't tell me. I was paralyzed with shock and surprise, but managed to gather my personal items and was walked to my vehicle. The staff had been told not to talk to me. The timing was such that I felt kicked out in the street, broke and homeless.

I was not aware of any problems at the library and certainly nothing of the magnitude to warrant this kind of action. From the very beginning, I had told the board that I welcomed evaluation and asked them several times about it. I never got a commitment from them. According to city policy, which the library is supposed to follow, my supervisor (the board) was to evaluate me prior to the end of the probationary period. There was never any evaluation.

If there were problems, I should have had an opportunity to discuss them with the board and identify ways to remedy them. I cannot fix or change anything of which I know nothing. I am bright and perceptive and take pride in doing good work. I do not have any personal agenda to the exclusion of other people's feelings or needs. I believe in working with others, keeping things in the open and moving forward.

I deserved the opportunity to do that.

An evaluation cannot be done without a thorough look at all people and events involved. I feel like I was found guilty without even knowing the charges. Are we not in America, where even criminals have rights? Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?

I am not saying that everything was perfect. There was a lot to learn and understand about how things had been done, as well as considering new ways to make improvements. I should have been treated professionally with respect. I know that legal counsel says that these things should be handled without notice and without reason given, that it is the "right" way — but I believe that we all need to be thoughtful and compassionate and concerned about doing what is right.

Betty Thompson

Havre