Peoria Illinoisan

My first impression about the news of improving the library system was an inferiority “what about me” complex.  In light of the recent and dramatic transforming of Peoria, I still think that is somewhat true, but I get the feeling that they don’t and won’t have much controversy and their tax increase will easily pass.  Is this because they seem to be honest and upfront about what they intend to do?  We all want good schools, parks, and librarys for our children, but District 150 and the Park Board face nothing but opposition, while the Library board is getting all thumbs up.

I’m already a fan of our new library director Michael Szynaka.  While in Pasadena, Ca, he resored the library to it’s historic grandeur.  They were so appreciative, the main foyer is named in his honor: the Edward M. Szynaka Hall.

 

Read this about his time in Indianapolis, from NUVO.net, Indy’s alternative art’s weekly:

“Turning to the City&State section, we found a story about how our city”s library director was ambushed and fired by four of his board members last Thursday. Ed Szynaka has been in charge of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library for nine years. Throughout that time he has had satisfactory job evaluations. More important, though, he has presided over the revitalization of the Indianapolis library system, upgrading technology, modernizing branches and setting the table for the renovation of the Central Library, a move which promises to dramatize and redefine how we think about our downtown. At this point, the $104 million expansion project is, by all accounts, running under budget and ahead of schedule.

But wait: According to City-County Council President Larry Borst, Szynaka deserved the ax because - well, because he”s not one of us. “He”s a very nice guy,” Borst was quoted as saying in The Star, “but he just doesn”t fit in this community Ö He bulls ahead, and he doesn”t check in with people.”

Never mind that, under Szynaka, our library system is now rated one of the best in the nation. “He doesn”t check in with people.” So last Thursday afternoon the City-County Council-appointed head of the library board, W. Steve Nelson, walked into Szynaka”s office and told him to resign. Szynaka refused to cut his own throat so Nelson and three of his colleagues did it for him at their meeting that night. Who said nothing succeeds like success?”

http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2003/04/23/fitting_in_or_else.html

 

I’m also encouraged by this, from LibraryJournal.com:

“Former library CEO Edward Szynaka, who pushed for the revamped Central Library and was fired by the board in 2003, was, according to his supporters, a whistle-blower who tried to stop the board’s excesses. He was recently hired by Peoria Public Library, IL, and local officials told the Peoria Journal Star that they believed his dismissal was political.”

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365224.html

 

I’m hopeful that this outsider can breath some fresh air into our community.  He seems different.  He doesn’t yet know all the movers and shakers (which could be an asset), but I have no doubt that he’s well aware of how to play political football; hence the apparent openness.  Time will tell, but after only officially being here for a little more than a month, he’s got grand ideas and seems to genuinely want the public’s opinion.

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