Promising transparency and community-mindedness moving forward, Chicago's LGBT library held its first open meeting Feb. 13 after more than a year of controversy.
Approximately 25 people crammed into a small room at the Berger Park field house in Edgewater, with at least 10 spilling over into an adjoining room.
Board members and a volunteer tackled questions on everything from the current health of the organization to its longterm plans.
Conspicuously absent was former Board President Karen Sendziak, who stood at the helm of the organization when news broke a year ago that the library was moving. The move prompted public outcry as Sendziak was accused of stonewalling community members, and a Windy City Times investigation revealed that Gerber/Hart was falling out of compliance with non-profit law.
The controversy came to a head when the board of directors released a new set of bylaws that stripped member voting rights.
The two-hour evening meeting marked the first open forum held by the library since the controversy began. Another meeting held earlier this winter was open only to paid members, and just a handful of people attended.
Board development
Among the night's most significant announcements was the creation a task force, charged with producing board member recommendations.
Rosemary Mulryan, a former Gerber/Hart board president, is heading up the five-person task force. Other members include former president Carrie Barnett and longtime advocate Kit Duffy.
Mulryan said that group was aiming to recommend 25 potential board members in the next 60 days.
"This is going to a board that is not only operational but fundraising," said Mulryan.
Board members will be expected to donate $500 to Gerber/Hart and fundraise or donate an additional $2,500.
Mulryan said she is not personally interested in being on the board, and that the task force would be operating independent of the current board.
"The board isn't telling us who to recruit," said Mulryan. "We're not being given any names."
Mulryan reported that board members approached her last year about developing the board. Among her conditions for agreeing, she said, was that the library solicit assistance from Executive Service Corps, a group of non-profit experts.
Executive Service Corps has been working with the library over the past few months.
Current President Brad Tucker said that library is committed to renewing community trust, to operating with more transparency and to growing the library.
Karen Sendziak
Attendees pressed Tucker on the continued involvement of Karen Sendziak, who stepped down from her role as president but has continued to serve as board treasurer.
"Karen will not be on the board," Tucker said. She will, however, remain involved with the library, he said.
"What that's going to look like, I'm not sure," said Tucker.
Community members have cited personality conflicts with Sendziak over the years, prompting some to quit volunteering in the library and on the board.
Several attendees referenced those conflicts without naming Sendziak outright, and Tucker acknowledged that perception.
"I am a big supporter of Karen Sendziak, and you know what, things need to change," Tucker said.
But Sendziak did not attend the meeting.
Tucker attributed Sendziak's absence to Ash Wednesday and said she was likely at religious services.
The move to Rogers Park
Tucker reported that the library is poised to open in the coming weeks. It has been closed since last Spring when it signed a lease on an unfinished building. The anticipated reopening has repeatedly been pushed back since.
"I'm ready to have the movers be there on March 15, and that is not a promise," he said. "That's my expectation as of right now."
Steph Potter, head librarian, said the reopening after the move will depend upon how many volunteers are available.
"It should be a relatively quick process," said Tucker.
The board released a rough layout of the new space. Windy City Times was told it was not for publication.
The layout shows five main sections of the librarya workroom, archives, special collections, a meeting/ exhibit space and the main library. It also includes an office, an archives reading room, storage space, two bathrooms and a pantry.
The space is divided up by a long hallway, which Tucker said would be used for art displays.
Attendees asked if the space was temperature and humidity controlled, and board members reported that it was.
Tucker reiterated past reports that the library has signed a seven-year lease. The organization will not pay rent until it moves in. It does not yet have an occupancy permit, but Tucker said that 97 percent of the buildout is complete. Once an elevator is installed, the building will be ready for occupancy, he said.
The archives
Attendees questioned board members on plans for the archives and special collections.
"The problem has been that the archives are utterly inaccessible," said John D'Emilio, a renowned historian who had previously been involved in the library.
"This is the way I'll phrase it," said D'Emilio. "There is a culture to the management of the archives that sees everyone other than the managers of the archives as a threat to the archives."
Tucker said he heard those concerns.
"I think that everyone can agree that those two little rooms on Granville [at the former library] have been way too sealed off for way too long."
Some expressed interest in seeing the archives digitized so that they could be more easily shared.
Potter said that process may not happen immediately.
"The hope for digitization in the future," said Potter. But she added that digitization could be costly and time-consuming.
Attendees pressed Potter to consider using volunteers, students and interns to digitize material.
Volunteers and members
Among the library's most pressing challenges will be adding volunteers to its ranks. Many had left the organization in recent years.
Potter said efforts are underway to recruit volunteers.
Those wanting to volunteer can email info@gerberhart.org .
Tucker also said that memberships could be offered at no cost in coming months. Those who paid for memberships in 2012 when the library was closed will be given automatic free renewals, he said.
Members have complained that the library failed to send out renewal notices, a problem that Tucker said would be corrected.
The future
Finally, attendees questioned Tucker on long-term plans for the organization
"That kind of long-term planning is not something that we're working on right now," he said.
Tucker said the library is focused on reopening and board development before it addresses long-term goals.
Windy City Times Publisher Tracy Baim asked if future board meetings would be open to the public and press.
Tucker responded that they likely would not, but the board did discuss the possibility of holding quarterly open meetings.
Attendees leaving the meeting expressed cautious optimism.
Among them was former President Dave Howser who is also a member of "Friends of Gerber/Hart Library and Archives," a group that organized in response to last year's controversies.
Howser said he still wants to see more transparency and community involvement.
"I'm still waiting to see the fruits of the promises," he said.