Patricia Furr, Executive Director of the Hinds County Library System, fired back at critics yesterday in a presentation to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. Several employees accused her of running a "Jim Crow" system adverse to minorities and the homeless.
Ms. Furr calmly stood her ground yesterday, as she provided the board with an update on the library system and addressed complaints. She said the share of employees who are minorities increased from 66% to 75% under her tenure. She stated the homeless were not turned away from the library. She was adamant in stating the law preventing the library system from discriminating against the homeless. She did state however, they would ask patrons to leave if inebriated or engaging in other forms of unwelcome behavior. Ms. Furr stated in her powerpoint presentation (posted below):
*The website is undergoing a complete renovation and will debut in May. It has not been changed since 1998.
*The online catalog will be updated next month. Email/text message notices with "2 day pre-overdue notices" will be sent to patrons. It will be friendly to social media.
*Patrons will be able to make payments with credit/debit cards at branches and online in April.
*Plans for a virtual online summer reading program are in the works.
*Five city libraries had "extensive roof leaks" requiring major repairs.
*Sewage back-up at Welty library led to two months of clean-up and repair. Someone flushed a pair of boxer shorts down the toilet. It passed forty feet into the pipe until it stopped and backed up the sewage.
*Furniture at Welty library will be replaced. There is no children's furniture and the current furniture is not friendly to the elderly. Many chairs are too low for them to use. She said the furniture will either be purchased on state contract price or bids will be sought.
*Circulation dropped from 104,666 in 2003 to 53,055 in 2013.
*Welty Library will soon offer a movie matinee during the week for adults.
Supervisor Kenneth Stokes was uncharacteristically quiet during Ms. Furr's presentation. He only asked her two questions: about the purchasing of furniture and a letter of recommendation. Uncharacteristic because it was Supervisor Stokes who authorized disgruntled employees to make their accusations. (Earlier videos are linked below.) Mr. Stokes made quite a few comments himself during those discussions that were not exactly friendly to the current library administration. Employees told the board Ms. Furr operated a "Jim Crow" system adverse to minorities and the homeless.
She told Supervisor Graham the system wants to open satellites at Metrocenter and the Jackson Medical Mall. She said the medical mall would be a "good fit" for the library system. She said she is also looking at moving the Fannie Lou Hamer branch to the medical mall, as it is in a very small location that is limited in what it can provide to patrons.The library system also provides updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Hinds Library system Twitter feed
Hinds Library system Facebook page
Earlier posts:
Employee: Jim Crow runs the library system
Employees say Jim Crow reappears
Kingfish note: One little fact I learned yesterday was you can now download books. That little fact might be worthy of a future post. Download page for ebooks.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Hinds Library Director Patricia Furr stands her ground.
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22 comments:
'Stokes was uncharacteristically quiet'? That's because he couldn't hide behind a cardboard sign in front of a bunch of malcontent nincompoops.
I don't know this lady, but if she is a strong woman who has her facts in order and presents them with confidence, Stokes has limited options.
Unless he gets all heated up and can beat up on a weaker personna, he realizes his inferiority and sits there going quietly apeshit, wondering whut Lareader did with his tube of Rolaids.
I'd say the people are getting their money's worth from this new director.
To whomever used the delicious phrase "malcontent nincompoops"---HURRAH! Let it be said, you are a wordsmith. I'm trying to think of a way to use this dactyl in a poem, but finding a rhyme for "nincompoop" challenges me, I do confess.
Kingfish -- any chance you have an email for her so we could send a note of support?
Never was smoke, never was a fire.
This lady sounds sharp and dedicated. Presentation is good. Also like the fact that she's thinking about patrons' comfort that you normally don't see (chairs are not easy for elderly to use). Lots of patience to deal with sewer backup because someone flushed boxer shorts. Good grief.
Thanks need to go to this lady for the dedication and hard work.
...leaving me and others to bend and scoop
The droppings of malcontent nincompoops.
Not great, but I didn't try very hard. You're welcome.
Bill, that's great!!!!
"The droppings of malcontent nincompoops ... seen most often when the sphincter droops ..."
...lest we be further duped,
let us all heave ho from our stoops
leaving me and others to bend and scoop
The droppings of malcontent nincompoops.
As the collective gasp, "Whoops!"
pfurr@jhlibrary.com
By popular demand, and as the original creator of the phrase 'malcontent nincompoop', I offer the following diddy. Imagine, if you will, being inside the old gym as the band strikes up Shangri La. It's belly-rubbin' time...
"As the male Stokes twin dips, to the tune Loop De Loop,
The other one's hat, it
shifts and then droops.
The Red Tops play on as they sway Shoop De Shoop,
May YO daince card contain malconTENT nincomPOOPS."
(With apologies to Slim Whitman and Sha Na Nah)
Put the needle on the record put the needle on the record
The new director is not dedicated at all, she is at this point running scared. The fact is she is the one who wrote in her own words about wanting to "change" the homeless and low-income patrons to patrons in higher tax brackets. She was only acting calm because, I believe she had probably taken her daily dose of anti-psychotics,which I am sure the dosage is now higher due to all the messy stuff that she is involved in now and even the past. The fact is she still sat by and allowed an employee to be verbally abused in front of witnesses by to people in supervisory positions. All she is worried about is making herself look good, she does not care about the Library system and she does not care about the employees at all. She loves to use threats and intimidation to try and "whip" them in shape. And, she and her "entourage" lie all the time and anything and everything. What I find funny is how the Library systems Board members would not approve her little Welty renovation project because she did, not let anyone bid in it like she was supposed to. And, guess what? The taxpayers did not take kindly to that at all. You see Furr's friend is the only person that she wants renovating the Libraries. All he does is jack the price up and money disappears. All of this is far from being over. Just watch and see what happens next. The truth will come out.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
LIES, LIES,LIES........
Wow, Patty Furr, what a unbelievable Powerpoint presentation that you presented before the Board. I bet you are so proud of yourself for doing that. Made you feel real important,didn't it? I wonder how many of your flunkies it took to put it together? Let me, tell you what I found wrong with it....the whole thing. You did nothing,but lie like you always do. Is it really that hard for you to tell the truth? C'mon you are so ridiculous. It was hard for me to listen to your video and look at the Powerpoint presentation because it literally made my stomach turn. You have the nerve to say that the Jackson Hinds Library System is an Equal Opportunity Employer, that is such crap. I've seen on many occasions you and the HR lady overlook perfectly able people for certain positions. Also, since you've been the director, more white employees have been hired,so I don't know where you are coming up with your figures. You say that you value your employees,but that is another lie. You only value those employees who are in your little clique. Um, and I think you really need to look at that statement you made about how "All employees who work 8 hours are entitled to a one-hour lunch break and two fifteen minute break"...that is the way it is supposed to be,but most of the time you are lucky to get half of your lunch break due to being short staffed at most of the branches. That is YOUR fault, Patty, for not hiring more staff, don't put the blame on anyone else! Lets going into these so-called Training sessions....where are they? You have nothing planned,do you? You were just talking out of your head, like always. Let me, touch on the fact that you said that you "Hear and Respond to ANY complaint by ANY employee." Well, again you lied, you refused to hear some employee complaints because you had already chosen a side. You are not supposed to do that,but what can we expect from a compulsive liar! Ohh, another one of your lies was regarding the homeless and how you "claim" to help them SO much. C'mon, Furr, cut the crap, you can not stand them and that is sickening to me. It has been said that once the new furniture arrive you don't want them sitting on it....wow, that was a truly heartless thing to say. There were so many other lies in your Powerpoint presentation, if I had the time, I would pick each and everyone apart. The people need to know that you are honestly a manipulative, lying, heartless person. My suggestion to you is (LEARN TO TELL THE TRUTH) because eventually the truth is going to catch up with you. And, when it does that will truly be a wonderful day.
Hint: Paragraph breaks do help.
I would like to say that, I believe very strongly about the comments that I made at the Board meeting that took place on January,6 2014. I would also like to say that Kenneth Stokes was the only Board member that had integrity enough to listen to what, I had to say. The other Board members sat like stone and would not give me eye contact. I respect and admire,Kenneth Stokes,as many Hinds county citizens do.I feel that the things that people say about him were cheap,trite, and childish.
Thsnk you,
Celeste Ramirez
What about the people that were run off before the present director came? The whole story is not being told.People worked without breaks and no lunch breaks either. The investigation and accusations all need to be from years back not just with the new director.
There goes CR the storyteller telling another tall tale.
WOW!!! I am reading this and wondering: how does something like this happen? I am on the outside looking in and from what I can tell this new Director has her head on straight. She wants what is BEST for the future of the library and she seems to TRULY care about it. Reading these negative comments from people who work there is appalling. If you guys are in such a disarray because she is making the system better---THEN QUIT!!!" The persons who hired her obviously wanted the BEST that they could get and she seems to be a VERY GOOD choice. I don't understand how you can call your boss names and stay on the payroll, but reaping what you sew is a powerful promise!!! You better be careful how you are treating this lady, because she just may be the one you will need later. #ijs...Mrs. Furr, I support you and your doing a great job! Keep it up!!!
I apologize...SOW...:)
Since this is back in the news, seems fitting this droppings from nincompoops with the raw boo boo
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