South Pasadena library reports programming rebounds, preservation grant and staffing reclassifications

Library staff reported program returns, a preservation grant and multiple staffing and classification changes during the Oct. 9 Library Board meeting.

Library Director Kathy (last name not specified) described upcoming and recent programs: a Halloween silent-film screening with live accompaniment, story times featuring the fire department for Fire Prevention Week, the return of “Barks and Books,” and a Los Angeles Clarinet Choir program for Hispanic Heritage Month. Kathy introduced a summer-reading wrap-up brochure created as a promotional piece for participants.

Kathy said the library received an initial preservation grant that will fund fireproof cabinets for local-history collections and a conservation assessment by the Northeast Document Conservation Center. The assessment identified a long list of storage and environmental risks; staff applied for a second-round grant that could support larger repairs such as window replacement if awarded.

Nut graf: The board heard operations updates that affect day-to-day service and the library’s collections: programming is resuming after pandemic reductions, preservation work is underway for historical materials, and class and compensation adjustments will change some staffing titles and pay.

Staffing and classification changes reported by Kathy reflect a recent citywide class and compensation study and ratified memoranda of understanding. Highlights include retitling of two managerial roles to a single “Library Manager” position (city working title), elimination of a vacant full-time library clerk position and conversion that vacancy to a children’s librarian, creation of a part-time reference librarian classification (to staff the reference desk), and renaming of part-time “aids” to “clerks” and clerks to “assistants” for alignment with comparable cities. Kathy said these steps will not increase full-time head count; the library still has 10 full-time positions but some part-time classifications and pay scales were adjusted.

Kathy also said the city’s recent labor negotiations concluded with new MOUs through 2028, and that some staff received raises based on the compensation study. She said the city will soon recruit to fill an administrative assistant vacancy with a job description better aligned to actual duties.

Ending: Trustees thanked Kathy and staff for the operational work and for continuing library services during the leadership transition. The board asked staff to share materials (for example, the summer-reading brochure) that could be useful in public outreach about the library campus.