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Findings and Recommendations 12 findings
F1
The Library Director’s and Administrative Assistant’s offices are located in the Ukiah Branch.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Strong, supportive and creative volunteer groups such as the Friends of the Library have provided vital services and financial support throughout the Mendocino County Library system.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Libraries have functioned remarkably well as a result of the dedication of many hard-working employees.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
In comparison to similar California counties, Mendocino County has a very high proportion of County residents who hold library cards.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Under recent administration, employee morale, particularly in the Ukiah branch, has been a serious on-going problem.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The Bookmobile was out of service during much of 2004, for lack of a qualified driver.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Over the last five years, a substantial number of grievances have been filed with the County and the Union by Library employees.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
There was a significant failure to follow through on a negotiated mediation agreement within the Library Department, involving library personnel and administration, a representative of the Human Resources Department, and a representative from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
No recommendations for this finding
F9
There have been inadequate audit functions within the County Library to account for cash receivables. 1
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The Board of Supervisors (BOS) failed to complete the mandated annual performance review of Library administration.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Collectively and individually, members of the BOS received many written and oral complaints about conditions in the Library.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The BOS failed to respond to a survey of Library personnel that disclosed serious management problems in the department.
No recommendations for this finding
Comments 1
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CO1All but one of the recommendations above address practices to be followed within the library. The Grand Jury chose to write only one recommendation that responded to the broader and more important issue of supervision. The troubles in the Mendocino County Library system were in part the result of poor management within the department, but the supervisory system within the County government failed utterly to respond to warning signs that were plain from the beginning. The Department of Human Resources, the Chief Administrative Officer and the BOS were unable to intervene in any effective manner. These officials are all heavily burdened with multiple responsibilities, but their inaction had consequences for the County, for its employees, and for the patrons of the Library, that were real, considerable, and expensive. The buck stops with the BOS, as they would be the first to admit. The supervision of department administrators requires both time and specific training, both in short supply for our Supervisors. The creation in March 2005 of the position of the Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer is being touted as a fix for the problem of evaluation and performance review of department heads, as well as general oversight of department functioning. The Grand Jury joins the citizens of Mendocino County in hoping that this will be the case. Our libraries are a grievously under-funded enterprise. When it comes to bang for the buck, money invested in the Library system yields extraordinary returns that are both intangible and material. This free service to County residents enriches the lives of all who use the system, particularly those of school age. At a time when other services must be cut back, additional funding for the library could help to address some of the pervasive inequities in our society. 2 RESPONSE REQUIRED The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors RESPONSE REQUESTED Director, Mendocino County Library Director, Department of Human Resources Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer Director, Mendocino County Office Local 707, SEIU 3
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
County of Mendocino
Agency
Mendocino County
County