Samuels Library Treasurer Responds to Jamieson’s ‘Lot of Money’ Letter

In Richard Jamieson’s letter entitled “Samuels Library Has Money…a Lot of Money”, published August 2, he accuses the library’s leadership of ineptitude and “failure to discuss openly and transparently what everyone knows is an unprecedented situation, both financially and operationally.”

He makes numerous innuendos, an incorrect inference, and goes on to say, “many questions arise,” and then lists a series of six or more questions.  I have a few questions for Mr. Jamieson. Has he ever attended a Samuels Library board meeting and asked any of these questions?  Samuels Library board meetings have always been open to the public.  I’ve been a member of the board for approximately 8 years, and I can’t recall him ever attending a meeting to ask any questions.  Has Mr. Jamieson ever written to the library to ask any of these questions?  Has Mr. Jamieson ever emailed the library to ask any of these questions?  Has Mr. Jamieson ever called the library to ask any of these questions or to request a meeting with library personnel to ask these questions?  To the best of my knowledge, he has done none of these!  I guess it’s just easier and more sensational to insinuate that there has been wrongdoing without the benefit of answers or facts.

He, or any member of the public, could ask library staff these questions any time, and anyone who asks would receive a complete, accurate, and polite response.  Additionally, as Mr. Jamieson points out, Samuels Library has a plethora of information openly available to the public from several resources.  The leadership of Samuels Library has nothing to hide!  While this is not the venue to address each of Mr. Jamieson’s questions, innuendos, and incorrect inferences, if he truly is interested in answers to these questions and issues, as opposed to just trying to keep people’s emotions agitated, he should try contacting the library.

I understand that Mr. Jamieson has a grievance with Samuels Library over materials in its youth collection, and I am not unsympathetic to that grievance.  But to try to smear the library’s leadership with false accusations and innuendos because of that grievance, alleging that the library has been less than completely transparent, is a shameful tactic that should only result in damaging his own reputation.

Pete Walker, Treasurer
Samuels Public Library

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