Respected former city Schools Chancellor and Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott is poised to take over as CEO of the Queens Library, the Daily News has learned.
Walcott, who grew up in Queens, is expected to bring a steady hand to the busy system that was rocked by the free-spending ways of former CEO Thomas Galante.
“We are confident that Dennis Walcott has exactly the right skills and depth of experience to lead the library through the challenging years ahead,” said Carl Koerner and Judith Bergtraum, who served on the Queens Library Board’s search committee.
Walcott was chosen after a six-month national search, officials said.
40 comments:
Alas, the cronyism, corruption, graft, greed and entrenched sociopath just keeps getting worse by the hour, within a City Hall administration that so completely betrays public trust and integrity (with impunity that is unprecedented, to date), that it now devalues all honesty itself---to pathologically treasonous, traitorous effect!
And, since Preet Bharara doesn't seem to be available for a total City Hall cleanup (if ever, as his endless work in Albany doesn't look like he will be free before the end of his natural life span), as all Albany corruption lives on, in perpetuity, then it's time for us to clone Preet himself for effective, prosecuting leadership to prevail---for, without another Preet to take on the entrenched ravages of THIS nightmarish City Hall, we are surely doomed to a Bill de Blasio experiment in societal collapse that is fast crossing over to full blown anarchy (currently in mid-level crisis), that now devalues all honesty itself---and the public be eternally duped, bilked, scammed and damned!
Does anyone go to the library anymore?
More waste.
Can you say Ipad, Amazon, kindle, smartphone???
God help us! Look what he did to our public school system. SMH...
Yes in my neighbor hood the library is still used as daycare for the old Chinese and the language classes for school kids (Its hard to find an English book in the branch and when you do its an old classic.
How much is he going to get.
5 plus years to build a library on Broadway Elmhurst, and it still isn't done.
Donald has built bigger buildings in less time.
Another Marxist hack put in charge of the children's doctrination program.
Why do all of these corrupt politicians keep getting recycled ? Why can't any Queens government agency be given a fresh (and clean ) set of hands every now and then? The vicious cycle continues...
WHAT'S HIS SALARY GOING TO BE?????
It's like clockwork. Crapper posts an item about the Queens Library, and someone will post a comment questioning if people still use libraries.
Totally in agreement with the above comments ...
To answer (sarc's) question ("Does anyone go to the library anymore?"): Oh, yeah, (sarc): Dennis Walcott is really showing his great love for the library, as he just installed himself into the de Blasio criminal section (of all unsolved mysteries) of all corrupt, City Hall, do-it-yourself, cradle-to-grave bureaucrats who continue to be rewarded for monstrous fail, for whom termination is NEVER an option---just ask the multi-pension collecting Carmen Farina (another walking corpse, zombie educrat who marches to (and inside) the de Blasio band(wagon)!
Sadly, City Hall is now looking like the largest daily police blotter of all 'CRIMES WITHOUT CRIMINALS'---and, getting worse by the hour!
I've been to the Brooklyn Library. Now I see why DuhBlazio didn't think the homeless were the problem-they are all at the library!
The smell defied description!
The crazy person talking to themselves at the table was a nice touch.
I wouldn't let my children go alone there for any reason!
They took 6 months to find this guy? Is that a joke? How hard did they really look and what are his qualifications, other than who he knows?
"Respected former city Schools Chancellor and Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott.."
Did the public school students graduation rate improve?
I honestly think that this is a pretty good choice.
paperless public library in texas
a "national search" and this was the best they could come up with?? who were the other candidates that were under consideration? anyone who isn't one of Mayor Big Slow cronies?
I didn't think the guy knows how to read.
What a surprise!
Who respects this hack?? Couldn't they find an actual library professional? Who's minding the ledger books with this clown in this administrative position?
How long was this guy chancellor to earn such great repute? I thought the name looked familiar and also thought that the city keeps recycling appointees. Although being a deputy mayor is what probably got him considered, he's probably the same type of supply-sider drone as the current wormtongue deputies that are feeding ideas in Mayor Big Slow's head.
@ ms. tsouris...
The only library professional in America is fictional, unfortunately
https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/librarycop.png?w=650
I disagree with the venom directed at Walcott. The qualities needed in a replacement for a scummy weasel like Galante, would be honesty, stability and a reasonable level of ability. I think he has these.
The real venom should still be aimed at:
1)Galante, the prick
2)All Board members, past and present who ignored or tolerated Galante's actions.
3)Whoever appointed those Board members.
I think we should see what Walcott does.
This low functioning pea brain was the best they could find? FAILed as a schools chancellor. So now he has a degree in library science, he knows how to run a library system? They just had to find one of their own, a mediocre-at-best piece of bureaucrap and recycle him as head of Queens libraries. This will surely be the latter part of the 1-2 punch to the beleaguered Queens library system after that outright crook Galante. My neighborhood has been waiting over TWO YEARS for the library renovation to be finished. Thanks to Galante, the work was put on hold for 1.75 years and we were forced to rely on literally a postage-stamp-sized storefront makeshift library staffed by the laziest women I've ever seen working in a library. They couldn't be bothered to stop their endless gossiping and chatting to reshelve books--you have to get your books off a cart where they perpetually lay in unorganized piles.
BTW, we still need physical public libraries. On the Sabbath, observant Jews can't use anything electrical like a Kindle; they need regular paper books to pass some pleasant reading time on the Sabbath.
read & learn the Torah
Upon hearing the news, someone wise said to me: "Another job for which he is unqualified."
About sums it up!
his will surely be the latter part of the 1-2 punch to the beleaguered Queens library system after that outright crook Galante. My neighborhood has been waiting over TWO YEARS for the library renovation to be finished. Thanks to Galante, the work was put on hold for 1.75 years and we were forced to rely on literally a postage-stamp-sized storefront makeshift library staffed by the laziest women I've ever seen working in a library.
the simple minded always looks for simple problems and simple solutions. the fact of the matter is galante is the product of a corrupt system that was created by the sole responsible organ for everything wrong in the library - the board.
yes, a ton of money is being spent on capital projects for the library - and it take forever to get anything done - but that is the reality across the board in nyc - roads, parks, everything. the fact is that the machine - that you all let walk all over you - is a large patronage machine that gorges itself on the trough of public money.
walcott? harmless enough. he will be in for a few years lulling all you sheep to sleep, than that board will be back and galente, to keep his mouth shut, will be at a nice job with at most a wrist slap.
nothing here sheeple, move on.
Anon said: "BTW, we still need physical public libraries. On the Sabbath, observant Jews can't use anything electrical like a Kindle; they need regular paper books to pass some pleasant reading time on the Sabbath."
-------
Observant Jews do not go to libraries on the Sabbath. Between morning an evening synagogue services, they spend the time with the family in Bible study.
As an author, I'd like to chime in. At a time when bookstores are closing, online shopping involves waiting, shipping & handling and missed deliveries, and the bookshelves in my home have run out of space- that's where the library comes in. I pick up a book, read it, and then return it. There's a certain pleasure that comes with reading an actual book on the commute rather than staring at a smart phone screen.
I've attended author lectures at NYPL and the room is filled with listeners. It's where children go for study materials. I've tried to take out the latest bestsellers and there's a waiting list.
Laugh if you will, but libraries are very much alive. As for Dennis Walcott, have you seen his resume? He was born and raised in Queens and with experience in social work, education and running a city agency, what could be better? QBPL is one of the biggest library systems in the country. So he doesn't have a library science degree, but is it necessary?
Finally, concerning the Sabbath. It depends on one's schedule. When one has time to visit a library, one can. But speaking from experience, between morning prayers, lunch, playground with my child, afternoon nap, and evening prayers, my Sabbath is a day of rest that has no time for the library. Which is why in Orthodox neighborhoods, libraries are open on Sundays instead of Saturdays.
No, observant Jews do not go to the library ON the Sabbath. They take books out to read BEFORE the Sabbath and bring them home. Not everyone "spends the time with the family in Bible study" and not everyone has a family. Ergo, reading some enjoyable books to relax on the Sabbath necessitates books, not Kindle.
To Sergey Kadinsky, who asked about Dennis Walcott: "So, he doesn't have a library science degree, but is it necessary?"
Answer: Not ONLY is it necessary, but qualifying! So, if a high school teacher doesn't have a teaching degree, would he/she be able to teach? Absolutely not---and, the same reason for why the head of one of the biggest library systems in the country MUST meet a level of qualification that demonstrates a commitment to the position of active pursuit, versus a patronage, handpicked, City Hall appointment that devalues qualification within a certain field altogether!
And, let's not overlook that the fact that Walcott's purported degrees in education completely failed him at the Department of Education---to terminating effect!
Hence, the 'Cold Light of Day' realities would certainly order that, if Walcott were to under perform so egregioulsy in private industry, then he would have most assuredly been already released from his services, without receiving a reward for failure within a de Blasio ordered promotion into another department, for which he doesn't even meet basic, educational qualifications to hold (where ironically many QUALIFIED librarians who ALREADY work in the Queens Library System are not even considered, many of whom have earned a Master's Degree and higher, in Library Science)!
But, after all, THIS City Hall IS currently operating under the dysfunction of a recalcitrant, bogus mayor who fires a secretary for his wife, Chirlane (only because he faced endless pressure from the media), only to replace an obvious patronage hire with TWO glorified secretaries for his wife (who is not a publicly elected servant of the people), at twice the price to the taxpayer ($350K)!
Then, to show how completely drunk with power and privilege (that was never earned, much less deserved), this empowered idiot of epic, humanitarian fail sneakily approves a 38% raise for the entirely vile, vapid and vacuous City Council (against the will of public referendum), when they are already vastly overpaid for a derelict, part-time job in the first place! And, despite how the Daily News called upon 'Dumblasio' to veto the pay raises (in an editorial that was published on Saturday, February 6, 2016), the mayor's office has once again retreated into silence and complicity---and the public be eternally damned!
And, these are only a few reasons out of many, why New York City is a raw sewage plant of systemic, grinding corruption, graft, greed and unresponsive depravity that not only completely betrays all pretense of public trust, ethics and integrity (with a vengeful impunity that is unprecedented, to date), but the City Hall of Bill de Blasio now devalues all honesty itself---to pathologically treasonous, traitorous effect!
So now he has a degree in library science, he knows how to run a library system?
I did not see any articles that say that Walcott has a Master's degree in Library Science. I assume he was selected because of his (1) political connections and (2) administrative abilities, rather than any specialized knowledge of libraries. (I know that he definitely has the former, but question the latter.)
Tom Galante was the Library's Director of Finance when the previous Queens Library Director left, and he was told that he would get the permanent job if he got an MLS degree, so he did. I guess it's not important anymore, so Walcott doesn't have to.
I also don't get this whole "people still go to libraries?" BS we see in the comments of every story. I stare at a computer screen far too much as it is - when I have a chance to read, it's nice to read an actual paper book.
> My neighborhood has been waiting over TWO YEARS for the library renovation to be finished. Thanks to Galante, the work was put on hold for 1.75 years and we were forced to rely on literally a postage-stamp-sized storefront makeshift library staffed by the laziest women I've ever seen working in a library.
Kew Gardens Hills branch, right? I swear, the ladies at the front desk don't do anything. They don't check out your books, they won't check in your books; you have to put them in a basket and hope they don't forget them, or you've got a missing overdue book on your hands and you have to hope you can find it on the shelf and prove you returned it.
At least the reference librarian and the kids librarian actually work. I wonder if those ladies at the front have library science degrees, and get paid the same as the people who actually work?
> So, if a high school teacher doesn't have a teaching degree, would he/she be able to teach? Absolutely not
BS. There are plenty of teachers, especially at the high school level, who became teachers because they have a degree in the subject they're teaching, rather than having an education degree.
Anonymous, when I said, "...if a high school teacher doesn't have a teaching degree, would he/she be able to teach," I was actually REFERRING to any and all relevant degrees that the class subject required an area of professional expertise for which a teacher could qualify to serve, and not ONLY an education degree, per se.
In the case of Dennis Walcott, you may have missed the point of my argument altogether, which raises serious questions regarding why Walcott was chosen for the head library position in the first place---especially after he failed so miserably in a top, key position at the Department of Education, for which his purported background, educational degrees and skill set were a balanced and calibrated match!
And, now We The People are supposed to believe that after so many failed years of service within his chosen field and profession, that he will now suddenly reign competent and qualified for a position that clearly falls WAY outside of his range and field, when there are so many ACTUAL, qualified persons of graduate level degrees in Library Science who already work for the Queens Public Library, but who were clearly never going to be considered, simply because a failed educrat like Walcott had already been pre-selected by his arrogant, clueless, wasteful friends of monarchy rule in City Hall (of whom they themselves are profoundly unqualified!), who unilaterally chose to once again reward monstrous fail---and, the powerless, taxpaying public be damned!
Rest In Peace, Queens Library---how apropos that Queens County was once known as the borough of cemeteries, as the entire borough itself is now officially DOA---compliments of the walking corpses of City Hall, who long ago buried this once proud, historic, self-reliant and dynamic hub, deep below a political raw sewage plant of grinding graft, greed, corruption, patronage, cronyism and nepotism that now devalues all honesty itself---to pathologically treasonous, traitorous effect!
I wonder if those ladies at the front have library science degrees, and get paid the same as the people who actually work?
People who work at the Circulation desk are clerks, not librarians, and therefore do not have the same credentials as a librarian and do not get paid the same as librarians. The minimum qualification to work as a librarian is a Master's degree in Library Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association - other specialized jobs require additional qualifications. To be a librarian in CUNY, one needs both an MLS and a second graduate degree in a subject area.
NO ONE CONDUCTS REAL RESEARCH ANYMORE. THEY GOOGLE STUFF AND THAT'S THAT!!
THE WHOLE LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREE IS CARP. SOMEONE WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE AND A BACKGROUND IN HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S THE ARTS OR SOCIAL SCIENCE SHOULD SUFFICE. THE CITY NEEDS TO CHANGE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS...
My goodness, the ignorance.
The libraries in queens are packed.
Degrees are not fish. Learn to spell.
Iritano's comments are apropos of nothing. Still just bitter at his lack of state severance pay.
Walcott, the actual topic? We'll see.
Books are passé.
Everybody reads a tablet.
I keep my specialty and Art books.
But crowd valuable space with books CDs DVDs?
No thanks.
Everything is online now.
A lot of libraries have become social centers.
The main Jamaica branch does house the Long Island collection of artifacts.
That is great!
Keep your unique or valuable books at home.
But keeping the full alphabet of Sue Grafton mystery novels?
Bah! Humbug!
Popular crap is like shit. It is meant to be flushed, once read.
On line reading has become the biggest advance since Gutenbeg and movable type..
This is 2016, folks.
No need to whine and sigh about libraries anymore.
Give a kid a cheap tablet, and he or she will be more fit for this modern century.
What I do miss are some library programs.
Most libraries are filled with computers anyway.
So long as Walcott admits his obligation to Morris Lee for his career
>People who work at the Circulation desk are clerks, not librarians, and therefore do not have the same credentials as a librarian and do not get paid the same as librarians. The minimum qualification to work as a librarian is a Master's degree in Library Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association - other specialized jobs require additional qualifications. To be a librarian in CUNY, one needs both an MLS and a second graduate degree in a subject area.
Thanks for clearing that up, Anon!
Anonymous, you are a waste of skin, depleting the earth of precious oxygen, and likewise an arrogant coward, who continues to hide in obscurity---just like all bullying cowards of deserving irrelevance!
But, you don't have to keep reinforcing what a loser and asshole you are (and always have been). Everyone got the memo (so very long ago!), that you yourself keep sending (ad nauseam)!
Finally (and once again), your personal obsessions with me, and psychobabble are not welcome here. But, until you crawl out from under your dark recesses by revealing who you are, it's only a continual testament to what a complete, meaningless coward you are---and, exactly the way you will die as one.
And, who the hell do you think you are, Anonymous, to unilaterally declare that my statements about Dennis Walcott are "...apropos of nothing?" Here's what's really apropos of nothing---YOU YOURSELF!
Hence, my qualifying comments are ALWAYS relevant to the issues at hand, and never personal or unfairly 'ATTACKING' in nature---so unlike your worthless, 'Attack And Retreat,' Accuse And Evade' blather and unprecedented arrogance (to pathological effect!), over a matter that you keep trying to unsuccessfully foist obsessively over me (while hiding under a vile loop of depraved, bullying cowardice), that you continue to visit (read, stalk) on all threads that are profoundly 'off topic,' in which you know absolutely nothing about.
Maybe if you had any real talent and experience in life to actually BE a somebody (ANYONE!), of character, integrity and principle, then you wouldn't have time to stalk me, in your obsessive quest to keep reinforcing what a powerless little troglodyte-asshole that you ironically never stop displaying on public forum!
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