Library staff urge higher pay as Camden County summer programming resumes; board clarifies negotiation process

Sarah Junich, a youth-services librarian with the Camden County Library System and president of a local union unit, told commissioners the library's contract negotiations had not proceeded in good faith and that proposed raises recommended to staff were not commensurate with New Jersey Library Association minimums. Junich said the most recent offer to library staff was 3 percent while administration and other bargaining units were offered 3.25 percent; she said the county’s current salary levels left many librarians below professional benchmarks and that a librarian I would not reach $50,000 even with the offer.

Junich asked that the person who makes negotiating decisions—she suggested the negotiator be present in person—attend a meeting scheduled for June 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to allow more productive, in-person discussion. Director Capelli and other county officials described the negotiation process on the record: the library commission has its own authority over library employment matters and the commission’s chair receives reports from the negotiator; the county supplies counsel to the commission. At the public meeting Deputy Director McDonald said the county would pass along the request to have the negotiator make an in-person appearance.

Another speaker who attended the library commission meeting confirmed that the library commission voted to give administration a 3.25 percent raise and that library commissioner Earl P. Davis had publicly supported a higher increase. Junich and supporters asked the board to ensure timely, good-faith negotiations and clearer communication about who makes final pay decisions. The speakers invited commissioners to participate in local library events, including a summer reading program and an instrument petting zoo scheduled at the Camden Downtown branch.