Councilors,
I just became aware of the unjust firing of the Oak Park IL Library Director, former ALA Councilor Joselyn Bowling Dixon. She is a library and community leader, wonderful and hilarious person, who I know a bit through libraries.
In the substack story from what I understand, a few staff were being held accountable and then wrapped a community program into a online campaign. I feel it could easily be any of us in public libraries, maybe all libraries.
Justice for Joslyn, organized by Jennie Pu
Justice for Jocelyn: (EDIT to include link)
"On March 16, 2024, our dear friend and widely esteemed colleague Joslyn Bowling Dixon was abruptly stripped of her position as Executive Director of Oak Park Public Library, the culmination of a misinformation campaign that led to the public violation of the Open Meetings Act by the library board. Here is an up-to-date account of the events the lead up to Joslyn's termination, and a recording the full board meeting -
https://stackedthoughts.substack.com/p/what-is-going-on-at-oak-park-publicWe as Joslyn's friends and colleagues have come together to set up this fund to help her family bridge the gap between now and next steps. We all know how devastating it is to lose one's livelihood while also looking into legal paths forward, and the time it can take to find new employment. Please give what you can to help us seek justice for Joslyn.
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Laverne Mann MLIS
Director
Cherry Hill Public Library, NJ
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