Seattle chief librarian race takes a surprise twist with remote work dispute

The Seattle Public Library (SPL) is selecting its next chief librarian. Two finalists remain in contention: long-time interim Seattle Chief Librarian Tom Fay; and Chad Helton, library director of Hennepin County, Minnesota.

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The finalists appeared before the SPL board of trustees this week for a final interview process before a candidate is selected later in February or March. They will replace Marcellus Turner, who held the position for 10 years but departed for Charlotte early in 2021.

The selection process has been a turbulent one as Helton has come under fire in recent months for his decision to work his position with Hennepin County’s libraries from thousands of miles away in Los Angeles.

When Helton was hired in May of 2020, he had originally intended to relocate to Minnesota, he explained to SPL’s board of trustees Thursday. As of this past summer, he was still located in Los Angeles, according to Minneapolis’ Star Tribune.

“I applied for the ability to work out state on a permanent basis, and that was approved,” Helton said. “And I moved back to California. …  Staff wasn’t really aware. And that was not communicated greatly. But I’ve never really been in a position where I had to tell people where I live. So I didn’t think it was something that was necessary.”

“I worked offsite the entire time that I was there, so it wasn’t really much of an issue for me. I ended up getting a lot of backlash for the fact that I moved, and the policy changed,” he continued. “People felt that my position should be [for someone] living in Minnesota.”

Hennepin County updated its employment policy in December with a requirement that county officials must live in Minnesota, at least in part due to Helton’s history with the county’s libraries, according to an Associated Press report.

In reference to Helton’s remote position with Hennepin County, Ali Fuhrman, president of AFSCME Local 2822, which represents library support staff, wrote to Minneapolis’ Star Tribune: “Hennepin County residents and workers need a library director committed to the community here, and we look forward to hopefully seeing some real leadership in the coming period.”

As for his interest in stewarding Seattle’s libraries instead, Helton was asked Thursday why he singled out this position. His answer was that SPL defends First Amendment rights.

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“It’s always been my intention to make sure that every single person belongs in library spaces, and that is my vision. And I completely stand by that, growing up as a Black man in the South, defending the rights of hate groups [that] come through, particularly those that hate the African-Americans,” he said. “It is my responsibility to support that group with their First Amendment rights.”

He referenced SPL’s decision in January of 2020 to allow a feminist group, self identified as the Women’s Liberation Front, to make public appearances on library grounds.

“It was the commitment to the First Amendment,” Helton continued. “That was one of the big things that really attracted me initially, … one of the big things that happened here was there was the feminist group that booked the study room, and they booked it within their rights.”

“The way that the library handled that really made me want to be a part of this organization,” Helton said. “… We have a responsibility for unfettered access, whether we agree with the people that are coming in. … That’s one of the big things that really stuck out to me about this organization.”

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