The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – More than two dozen people gathered in the Delany Building on March 4 to hear concerns about the practices and policies of the Dayton Memorial Library. The meeting was spearheaded and facilitated by former library employee Vicki Zoller and recently terminated employee Shakira Bye.

Over the course of an hour-and-a-half, Zoller voiced concerns ranging from lack of training for both the director and employees, safety concerns for library patrons and employees, inconsistency in programming, loss of employees and possible legal ramifications of recent decisions.

She opened the meeting by stating that the library has turned over nine employees in the last four years and that the high costs of retraining and employee replacement is a financial burden to taxpayers. The replacements also result in a lack of consistency in programming and make it difficult for children to feel comfortable with the lack of stability, Zoller said.

About a half-dozen former library employees were present at the meeting.

Zoller repeatedly commented that the library Board of Directors seems to have an “aura of complacency” about the problems brought forth regarding library operations.

Zoller said the impetus for the March 4 meeting was the recent termination of Bye, who had recently been promoted. Zoller said the firing was unjust and that Bye has hired legal representation, which has cost the county even more money.

“There is a slight hint of retaliation in her firing, which has cost the county,” said Zoller, who also accused the Board of using Bye’s race to cast doubt on her character.

Zoller and Bye repeatedly stated that Library Director Dusty Waltner has not been performing her duties, possibly due to lack of training, and that the library board has been remiss in addressing problems and requiring change.

“The Board has failed her like she has failed her employees,” Zoller said.

Zoller and Bye handed out a two-page list of questions and concerns. They also distributed public records requests and suggested that audience members request minutes, security footage and other documentation from the Board.

In addition to writing to Board members and writing letters to the editor, Zoller requested that interested parties attend the March library Board meeting to make their voices heard.

“It is our library, not theirs. We pay for it. We have given them trust to be good stewards but that trust can be taken away,” Zoller said, referring to the library Board.

When asked for a response to the concerns, Board Chair Tanya Patton said that the Library District Board of Trustees is made up of five members of diverse backgrounds, demographics, life and career experiences and perspectives.

“The one thing we have in common is our dedication to providing the very best library service possible to the citizens of Columbia County,” she said.

“While Board members are not at liberty to disclose or discuss anything pertaining to employees past or present, we certainly welcome community input and will do our best to answer questions people have about the operation of the Board and our role in providing the outstanding library services that our community has come to appreciate and expect,” Patton added.

The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees meets next on Mon., March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Delany Building.