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Gene Bernardi of Berkeleyans Organized for Library Defense said she was collecting signatures against automation of the library’s main branch in front of the main doors recently when she was ordered away from the library. 

According to Bernardi—whose account was confirmed by the ABC Security guard involved—the guard came out and said she was on “library property” and would have to move to the sidewalk. Bernardi refused and the guard threatened to call the police. A police car did arrive but Bernardi had relocated to the sidewalk. 

Two weeks ago, the Peace and Justice Commission declined to condemn the small radio tracking devices being installed in all the libraries materials. 

Lee Tien, staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based watchdog group, told the commission that the devices now in Berkeley’s library books are similar to those that government spy agencies intend to use for long-range tracking, placing them, for example, in visas carried around by foreign visitors. 

“This is a technology that could usher in an age of surveillance,” Tien said. 

Mark Marrow, library general services manager, told the commission that the devices as installed can only track a book a few feet as it goes through a checkout reader. A resolution against the devices failed to pass with five yes votes, five no votes, one abstention, and three absences.  

Library employees have complained about a variety of issues at the library, including the automation check out system, proposed layoffs and sagging employee spirits. 

“In 34 years…I’ve never seen morale so low or the staff so angry,” said library employee Anne-Marie Miller told the trustees. 

Reference librarian Andrea Moss told Library Director Jackie Griffin, “We don’t know how to have a conversation with you and we need to.” 

While the debate continues, library employees are pasting the tracking tags on the library’s books, videos, compact discs, records and tapes. 

Joseph Alvarez, a library aide for seven years, said Griffin announced at a recent staff meeting that 200,000 of the library’s estimated 500,000 books and other materials have been tagged so far. 

Alvarez said a sense of depression pervades the staff at the main library downtown. 

“People are just beat and (management) contradicts itself in many ways,” he said. “First we’re told there are going to be layoffs and then we’re told there aren’t going to be.” 

A common sight at the library is two employees checking out materials at the main desk while a line of waiting patrons stretches into an adjoining room. Alvarez said Griffin wants to automate the library “and you know who gets squeezed when that happens.” 

Griffin was unavailable for comment for this article. According to the City Charter, the library director is answerable only to the five library trustees. The trustees are appointed by the City Council which can remove them only by a majority vote. 

Bernardi was back at her post outside the library late last week. Not every one who signed her petition cared only about the tacking devices. 

“The petition should be to have the library stay open later and on Sunday,” said Rinaldo Pelegrino, who had a small child strapped to his side. He said the library is rarely open when a working parent has time to go there.  

“The reduced hours are a disservice to the community,” he said. 

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