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Library workers urge more staff, clearer trauma reporting during oversight hearing
Summary
Union leaders and public witnesses told the Committee on Human Services that DC Public Library needs more staffing, a career ladder for non‑degree workers and reliable incident reporting so employees can access workers' compensation and trauma supports.
Union and frontline testimony at the Committee on Human Services' Jan. 29 oversight hearing pressed the District of Columbia Public Library for deeper staffing investments and clearer reporting after traumatic incidents. Yonah Bramber Gaber, president of AFSCME Local 1808, said the union's survey found that “only 19% of responding staff agreed … that management was moving in the right direction,” and called for funding to support reclassification, pay equity and improved on‑the‑job supports.
Director Richard Reyes Gavilan told the committee DCPL has been filling vacancies—reporting 10 new public safety officers onboarded and offers extended to 27 library associates—but acknowledged persistent hiring gaps and a roughly 20% vacancy rate systemwide in FY25. The director and union leaders both emphasized better use of the district's eRisk reporting to trigger workers' compensation and timely mental‑health follow up: Bramber Gaber recounted that a death at MLK was not reported to risk management until months later, delaying care for staff, and urged the committee to prioritize faster incident reporting and trauma care for employees.
