The Berkeley Public Library announced Monday that Jeff Scott has officially resigned from his position as director of library services. The move comes just 10 months after Scott took the position, in November 2014. The resignation is effective Sept. 8. Scott’s abrupt departure comes in the wake of a controversy over the weeding of books at Berkeley’s central […]
Pat Mullan
Posted inCity
Performance of Berkeley’s library director under fire at meeting of library trustees
More than 40 people expressed concern about the actions of the Berkeley Library director at a specially called meeting Wednesday night of the Board of Library Trustees. Those who spoke publicly – who were supported by 40 observers – not only complained about the aggressive book weeding policy put forward by Jeff Scott, the director, […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley library director admits vast discrepancies in numbers of weeded books
Over 39,000 items have been weeded from Berkeley Public Library this year, far more than the couple of thousand previously cited by Library Director Jeff Scott. The 39,000 items include 13,850 deleted last copies of books. According to Scott, however, the 39,000 items is comparable to the average weeded over the last two years. “I had […]
Posted inCommunity
Protesters rally, check out books to make clear concerns over weeding at Berkeley Central Library
By Francesca Paris A crowd of around 30 people gathered at the front of the Central Branch of the Berkeley Public Library today to protest new procedures for weeding books from the library’s collection. The protesters believe the process, ordered by Library Director Jeff Scott, is being carried out irresponsibly. Members of the group carried signs reading […]
Posted inArts, Events
Pat Mullan, recommended music gigs in Berkeley
The Berkeley Public Library might seem like unpromising territory to develop a thriving practice as a jazz trombonist, concert presenter, and all-around East Bay mover and shaker, but Pat Mullan is an expert at creating spaces for the culture she loves. She spent a quarter century ensconced at the downtown branch, where she found numerous […]