Evanston library’s “Cranky Librarian” problem blew up in a major way during the last week. As the library’s board initiated abrupt termination proceedings for Lesley Williams (aka “Cranky”), e-mails surfaced revealing that board members and the library’s director had been conspiring to get rid of her for several years.
The post consisted of photos of a library flyer that touted “Free & Equal Access for All,” along with this comment by Williams: “Some organizations are true leaders in practicing equity and inclusion. And some prefer to post signs on their bulletin boards.” According to the notice, Williams “tagged the Evanston Public Library in this post,” causing it to turn up on the EPL Facebook page.
A more recent e-mail, sent to Danczak Lyons three months ago by the board’s vice president, put it this way: “LW is clearly the thorn in our sides, but at this point, unless she really oversteps her role, we are stuck, agreed?” Danczak Lyons’s reply: “Agreed.”
