Library workers ask Memphis City Council to reclassify them as civil service employees

Dozens of Memphis Public Library employees and supporters asked the Memphis City Council on Aug. 5 to reclassify library staff from "appointed" employees to civil service status, saying the change would protect jobs, preserve accrued benefits and clarify workers' rights. The request came during the public-comment period, where library staff, including librarians and assistants, described daily work connecting residents to housing, legal aid, food and youth programs. "Library workers show up with compassion and dedication to serve the people of Memphis," said Alexandra Farmer, who identified herself as a librarian at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. "We are here today to start this conversation and to ask this council to act." City Human Resources Chief Fonda Fouche responded that the municipal charter currently classifies library employees as appointed and said the HR office is conducting a compensation study covering all city positions, which she said should be available by late August or early September. "This is in the city charter," Fouche said. "We are working with compensation and we are working on a comp study to review the library positions." Council members discussed next steps. Councilman JB Smiley Jr. and Councilman JB Canale and others acknowledged the difference between reclassification and the separate issue of unionization. Councilman JB Smiley Jr. (commenting in the meeting) and Councilman JB Easter Thomas urged that the council’s library committee consider the question of unionization and civil-service status at an upcoming meeting; Thomas said she would request the item be placed on the Aug. 19 committee agenda for discussion. "Those two things aren't connected but not conjoined," Thomas said while urging an early committee conversation on the rights to unionize and the classification issue. Library employees asked that any reclassification preserve accrued years of service and benefits. Multiple speakers described their roles as broader than traditional librarian duties, noting work with Link 2-1-1, legal clinics, youth programs and social-service referrals. Anthony Lucatelli, a librarian, said: "We're public servants, and we should be treated as such." No ordinance or charter change was introduced or voted on during the meeting; councilmembers directed staff and legal to provide more information. HR and legal staff agreed to follow up with the council and to share the compensation-study timeline.