OCPL Safety Update: Sept. 17, 2024

Dear OCEA member,

As you may know, OCEA members and staff are in an ongoing campaign to achieve better safety provisions and workplace conditions at Orange County Public Libraries. In response, we are aware of multiple messages sent by the County Librarian which have made some OCEA members uneasy about participating in this effort.

OCEA became involved in this issue after we learned of over 200 safety incidents our members reported at various library branches. While OCPL has made some adjustments to safety protocols, you have let us know that to date they have not been sufficient to create the type of working environment where library staff feel secure in your ability to do your jobs with a lessened potential of danger or personal harm.

We’ve heard from members that staff are hesitant to come forward and we encourage you not to be intimidated. We are addressing the Librarian’s communications with County HR and other County leadership, as the Librarian’s actions have made it increasingly difficult to collaboratively make positive changes and improvements.

OCEA continues to work on the issues of safety, rotations and staffing, and we will meet with each office of the Board of Supervisors to discuss these topics further in the near future.

Additionally, we have started receiving submissions to our LIBRARY LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN. As a reminder, details and deadline are as follows:

We want to show how these issues impact everyone at the public libraries. We are asking each member to write a letter describing how safety, rotations, staffing, or all three, have affected your ability to do your job and help your community.

Ultimately, we want to carry your voices to the Board of Supervisors and library management to show just how intrusive and disruptive the problems are at the OCPLs.

If you want to sign your name on the letter, please do, but if you want to remain anonymous, that’s okay too! Please address the letter for “To Whom This May Concern,” and include your branch if you feel comfortable.

To submit a letter, please contact one of your OCPL LMC members or OCEA representatives Louis Gurrola (lgurrola@ocea.org) or Alisha Greene (agreene@ocea.org). We ask that letters be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Publication Date: September 17, 2024