Chapter 7 #2
“We’re hopeful. In the class, we had a family whose young daughter is deaf, and they need to learn to communicate with her and teach her going forward.
We also had an experienced signer who joined us for the community and to help with instruction.
There is also one of our patrons who lost his ability to speak while in the service.
He was the person who inspired me to start the class. ”
“What about long-term? Do you intend to continue leading and instructing? What about certification?”
Derek was ready for these questions. “First, the plan is for me to get the program off the ground. Ideally, one of the group would be able to step up and lead, with me in an advisory role. As for certification, we aren’t teaching medical or professional signing.
This is designed for practical purposes.
” He pulled out a copy of the materials and sent it around.
“I got the materials free of charge through connections with the deaf community in Rochester. The author is a doctoral candidate, and my using and providing feedback on them will be helping with her degree. All of which costs the library nothing, and we are providing an important service that is lacking in the community.” He kept himself from smiling, because he was nervous as hell and pleased his voice didn’t break.
Grace cleared her throat. “Is it true that your sister is the connection in Rochester?”
“Yes. I learned to sign beginning at six because my sister was born deaf. She is now an accomplished dentist. I think it’s important to use all the resources at our disposal to better the community and the library.
” He paused in case there were additional questions.
“I have other ideas for programs, including expanded children’s programming all year long.
I’d also like to look into a books-for-kids program where we get underserved children in the community books of their very own.
” There were a few rumblings, but he continued.
“If children learn to read and love books early, then they will the rest of their lives.”
Derek paused and looked around the room. Most of the board members were nodding their heads slowly.
“Thank you, Derek,” Grace said with a slight smile that faded.
She pulled a piece of paper out of her folder before sighing, which was never a good sign.
“I received an email from a patron about you personally, and frankly, it’s a little frightening.
Apparently, you removed a patron from the library after he was intimidated by your boyfriend.
” She set the page down. “It seems you have been using a friend of yours to intimidate patrons and members of the public. Can you explain this?”
Derek was shocked and for a second his mind skipped a few beats. “Of course not. Why would I do something like that. Who is the note from?”
“I’d prefer not to say,” Grace said, and Derek could feel the position he’d been hoping for sprouting wings and flying out the window right before his eyes.
Then it hit him and anger welled, but he tamped it down. This was not the time. “Is his first name William?”
“So you’re aware of this incident?” Grace asked softly, disappointment in her voice.
Derek cleared his throat. “William is my stalker. He comes into the library, sometimes with flowers, and has asked me out on a number of occasions. I have turned him down politely and professionally. He has shown up in restaurants when I’m out with others, as well as at my home.
I have reported him to the police. One of the times he was in the library, another patron, who happens to be former military and unable to speak, apparently made him uncomfortable enough to get him to leave. ”
One of the board members cleared her throat. Mary was usually quiet and tended to speak only when it was important. “So you were being harassed?”
“In a way, yes. William has been told on a number of occasions that his attention is not wanted. He has brought flowers, sometimes leaving them at my desk. I do not keep them and pass them to the staff. I have no interest in this man, and when he showed up at my house, which there is a police report to back up, he used threatening language.”
“And you believe that this note is part of that threat?” Mary asked.
Derek nodded. “Let me guess—it was sent after Friday evening.” Grace checked the time stamp and nodded. “Then I am going to ask you to forward me a copy, or pass it to the police yourself.” He was not going to back down from William or his threats.
“This is serious,” Grace said.
“It is. And I’m being careful to be safe, and I watch over the staff to keep them safe. The library should be a place where no one is threatened and where everyone can come to feel at home, patrons as well as staff.”
“I mean that the charges he makes are serious,” Grace clarified.
Derek stood and leaned forward. “No. His accusations are falsified, and I have witnesses to back up what I’m saying.
William is a stalker and is writing to you to try to put pressure on me to go out with him.
That’s illegal, and you not taking what I’m saying seriously is also illegal.
It is our responsibility to ensure that the library is a safe work environment.
I have done my part in that; now you need to do your part.
You are all aware that I have applied for the position of library director, and if this takes me out of the running, so be it.
But I won’t be stalked, and I won’t allow you to assist someone who is doing that.
Is that understood?” He met Grace’s gaze, using Harm’s icy stare as a guide.
“As I said, that is a fabrication, and I can prove it.”
She harumphed and then cleared her throat to try to cover it.
“Grace, that’s enough,” Mary snapped, and Grace swallowed and turned to her. “Have other library staff seen this behavior from the patron?”
“Yes, they have. Multiple other employees have witnessed it. I’ve given them the flowers because I do not want his attention.
And I wouldn’t have brought this to the board’s attention because we have plenty of things to discuss that are more important.
But I will ask again that a copy of the email that was sent be forwarded to the police to aid in their investigation. ”
“It will be,” Mary said, looking at Grace as she said it.
“I believe that this is a serious situation, and we will look into it.” Damn, for someone who was usually quiet, she was saying plenty today.
“We will look into this. I will take the lead. But I think I can speak for the majority of the board in stating that unless these allegations are founded, this will not have any impact on our decision regarding the library director position.”
“Yes,” other members said.
“We’ve been pleased with the job you’ve been doing, and the fact that you’ve continued to build library programs with a minimum of costs speaks a great deal in your favor.
” Mary had the full board’s attention. “Is there any further discussion on this topic…? If not, we should move on. But I do want to say that if there are any further reports sent in, they should be forwarded to me immediately.”
“As president of the board—” Grace began.
Mary talked over her. “I think it best that this issue be handled by me.” There was definitely something going on that Derek was not aware of. He looked between the two women, wondering what he didn’t know.
“Are you questioning my objectivity?” Grace retorted.
Mary smiled and nodded. “In this case, yes. You clearly have a bias, and it was on display a few minutes ago. That cannot be the case. So anything regarding this matter will be handled by me going forward.” Man, this lady had a backbone of steel. “I can call for a vote.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Grace conceded. “The email I received will be forwarded to the police. Now, let’s move on to our next agenda item, which is the status of the budget for the year.”
Derek turned to the sheet that had been prepared and went through expenditures and revenue and where they stood at the present moment.
“Why are expenditures lower than expected?”
“Because we instituted a cost savings program,” Derek said and went on to explain what they had found and how they had managed to reduce some of the costs. “What I’d like to do is formalize the program so that we can reward the staff members who put forward viable cost savings ideas.”
“So you lowered costs and brought in additional money,” Mary observed, looking straight at Grace, who seemed to be looking down at her papers rather than at the rest of the board.
Yeah, there was most definitely something going on between the two of them, and Derek hoped it wouldn’t end his chances.