Hartford Public Library's Blalock To Retire

great reading even the 2nd time around. Couldnt be happier that this liberal librarian who is overrated is retiring. Not soon enough.; HPL is a disgrace with her at the helm

Yeah, 74 is time to pull away from the Trough. You can't collect a six figure in pension in a cemetery.

Most of the people who have commented in these posts about the Library and Louise Blalock have consistently been uninformed.

The Courant got most of its information from employees who aren't librarians, but maintenance workers and support staff. The Courant failed to educate readers about libraries and the challenges they face, rather they spun sensation (and exaggerated that).

In the annual citizen's survey the Library is considered by residents as the City's most used and favored service. That wasn't the case in the years before Louise Blalock.

And finally, letting the Perez Administration off the hook is simple stupidity. They hired the contractors who failed to complete many of the projects that would have enhanced the security of the downtown library. They cut the budget and forced the Library to close branches.So the pundits need to get real.

Louise Blalock is a Hartford leader who has done far more for the people who live and work here than any of those who this City elected over the past 15 years.

I think she's done a great job, but 74? Is there no one else who can carry on? I wonder why we let folks stay in jobs this long only obstructing an oppurtunity for someone else.

When you're 65, retire already, enjoy your life. If you want to stay active, volunteer, but for heaven's sake let somebody else have a chance to put their mark on society...

hartford watcher wrote:

Most of the people who have commented in these posts about the Library and Louise Blalock have consistently been uninformed.

You are getting boring. Anyone who disagrees with you is invariably "uninformed."

hmm wrote:

I think she's done a great job, but 74? Is there no one else who can carry on? I wonder why we let folks stay in jobs this long only obstructing an oppurtunity for someone else.
When you're 65, retire already, enjoy your life. If you want to stay active, volunteer, but for heaven's sake let somebody else have a chance to put their mark on society...

Well...we have age discrimination laws that restrict us from doing so. Besides, look around you, there are plenty of vibrant people over the age of 65 in today's workforce. Gee, we even have a 72 year old presidential candidate.
Louise accomplished more in the past nine years that you feel she shouldn't have been working than most of our political leaders accomplish during their entire careers. Do I agree with every decision she's made? of course not. But when you look at the picture as a whole, Hartford has benefited greatly from her contributions.

If Perez is worried about a deficit he should cut some of his high-priced flunkies like Sarah Barr.

Redundant wrote:

<quoted text>
You are getting boring. Anyone who disagrees with you is invariably "uninformed."

And unfortunately, you are redundant. Someone needs to express opinions that are informed. Most of the opinions here are from angry people who don't really understand how things work. These are the people who gave us the political leaders that are destroying our cities and our country. So calm down, Redundant. I have the right to express my opinion too. So keep that in mind when you lash out.

Another job opening for Perez to fill with one of his amigos.

She retires, but we're stuck with the ugly imposing glass and steel echo-chamber library.... sigh.

The reporter left out the fiasco in renovating the library. The years 2001, 02, 03, 04 were mostly a building sitting there with no workmen doing much of anything. I've lost count of how many years it took to get the library completed.

Amen to that real live. But that's sort of par for the course around this state. Remind me again how long the construction on 84 in Waterbury has been going on for?

At least the library board has one member with some sense and fore sight. Good for you, Stephen Goddard!

Jake wrote:

If Perez is worried about a deficit he should cut some of his high-priced flunkies like Sarah Barr.

So Real, When Sarah was once employed by WFSB, she seem to understand the truth behind a real story. However, since Perez has managed to befriend her and scooped her up as one of he flunkies, she has just simply become to greedy for the money, and not report the truth.

Shame on you "Sarah" you have been "Barbed"

The top job opening at the Hartford Public LIbrary should be opened up to individuals WITHOUT a library degree.

She doesn't have to retire...just retire from the HPL. Too big for someone to run it at that age. She can go run the Podunk library and ease herself into retirement

hmm wrote:

I think she's done a great job, but 74? Is there no one else who can carry on? I wonder why we let folks stay in jobs this long only obstructing an oppurtunity for someone else.
When you're 65, retire already, enjoy your life. If you want to stay active, volunteer, but for heaven's sake let somebody else have a chance to put their mark on society...

hartford watcher wrote:

<quoted text>
And unfortunately, you are redundant. Someone needs to express opinions that are informed. Most of the opinions here are from angry people who don't really understand how things work. These are the people who gave us the political leaders that are destroying our cities and our country. So calm down, Redundant. I have the right to express my opinion too. So keep that in mind when you lash out.

hartford watcher, redundant and a lot of the others are on an anti municipal employee crusade, they are jealous of people who have worked hard and given to the community. They are jealous of anyone who has a pension and benefits even though some are union members in the private sector and get a lot more. Then there are those that are nothing, have nothing, will get nothing, will amount to nothing and will always be nothing. They cry about government employees until one has to come to their aid.

Sam Zell Eats Children wrote:

<quoted text>
you're really Funny.......where do you work so I can show you how I really feel

WoW Sam, what upsets you so much, a little truth can't be all that painfull. You must be a city resident to have to resort to threats. Get a job, you too can move up the ladder and become a productive citizen. Good luck!

Blalock might have been a nice person, but that doesn't not mean she was at all qualified to run a city library.

Yes, I suppose we should be happy that she helped the $42 million dollar "library" that is there now. I put the word library in quotes because it is more of a homeless shelter and a daycare - and the librarians are too afraid of the locals to say anything. Also,$42 million?! Have you noticed how there has been red caution tape on the steps for MONTHS. Also, go to the reference section Oh wait, what reference section? Half the books are in the wrong place or are straight up stolen ("missing" in the search catalog).

That's not even mentioning the amount of money the library lost due to the lack of a security system in the CD and DVD area. This was all on Blalock's watch - a watch that cost the tax payers over $100,000/year just in her salary alone.

So, all of you that think her tenure as chief librarian helped the city of Hartford, please tell me why?

Oh, and did I mention the crime? The porn, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.

The criminal behavior is upsetting, but it was not a very frequent thing (except for the looking at porn thing) and I maybe it would happen anyway. The more upsetting matter, in my opinion, is the daily abuse of the library. The people in there do not treat the library with any respect. Pages are ripped out of magazines, there are kids running around unsupervised, people listen to music so loud that others can hear it, and people stealing CD's and DVD's. I've seen some things being enforced (a couple making out in the corner), but generally the librarians and (worse) the security guards do nothing about it. Maybe this laissez faire attitude DID help the crime happen in the library.

Hartford libraies, what a joke! LOL.

They are crack centers, places for public sex, shooting up and so on. what a waste of money