Over the past several years, I’ve worked with the library staff on several projects, and over those occasions, I’ve become aware that, collectively, they are one of the best collection of people that I’ve had the opportunity to work with. They are unfailingly pleasant, kind, intelligent, knowledgeable, and willing to go the extra mile in ways that exceed their job descriptions in order to better serve the objectives of the library mission and hence the town. They continually pursue improvement, adding services and capabilities to improve services to the town. I feel as though we must have one of the best library staffs in the state, which for Massachusetts is a significant achievement.
I read David Kassel’s excellent article in the Feb. 13 issue of the Press with growing feelings of surprise, amazement, disgust, and anger.
- Surprise and amazement: Why would anyone wish to imperil the wonderful ecosystem that Mary Wilson has built in order to save a few dollars? This library is part of what makes Harvard worth living in. Viewed through a business lens, when you have a superior product or service, customers want to flock to it and are willing to pay for the privilege. Why would anyone want to put that accomplishment at risk to save a few dollars?
- Disgust and anger: In my distant past, I’ve personally been the target of misdirected efforts to “rightsize” and “optimize,” and I know exactly the emotions that they engender. People who feel undervalued are likely to want to jump ship at the first opportunity; is that what we really want? The product of a service organization depends entirely on its people, and if the best people have no incentive to stay, the product quality will eventually suffer.
In short, is it really worth risking the degradation of this jewel of achievement to meet some target of “financial optimization” for the sake of a few dollars each? Not to me it isn’t.
William Cordner
Stow Road
