Library union welcomes new director, thanks board for staff involvement in hiring

Cale Wilson, a long-time employee and member of the Urbana Free Library Union, addressed the board during public comment on July 8 to welcome the library’s new director, Talia, and to thank the board for involving staff in the director search. Wilson said the union formed because employees care about the library and want it to remain a vital community resource; he said union members appreciate the board’s efforts to include staff voices in the hiring process and expressed hope for “positive and kind leadership” moving forward. Trustees did not take action on public comment; board members later noted they had received many community emails welcoming the new director and encouraging support for staff and the union. The board said it responds individually to emails and that members had seen many messages urging both support for the new director and support for the union.