The head of the Anchorage Libraries? That would be the city manager, Amy Demboski. She’s been the lead role since Jan. 12.
Rumblings from the Assembly leftist leadership about how the library system has no chief librarian have reached the left-wing press, which is pressing forward with a story about how Judy Eledge, deputy director of the library system, can’t just run the libraries forever without the mayor appointing someone as director. The Assembly left-wing majority wants a left-wing librarian who will allow the library to continue to deteriorate into a holding pen for vagrants and drug abusers.
The job of library director has been a point of tension between the Assembly majority and the mayor since he took office. The Assembly would not confirm either his first pick, Sami Graham, nor his second, Eledge. Eledge was dropped down to a deputy director to avoid a nasty confirmation hearing that was clearly not going to go in her favor.
The Anchorage Assembly, in its war on Mayor Dave Bronson, passed an ordinance on Jan. 12 stating that no acting director or deputy director can remain unconfirmed in a lead position for more than 60 days. They were targeting Eledge.
In an internal memo obtained by Must Read Alaska, on Jan. 12, Demboski wrote that she had the authority over libraries until such time as a new library director is hired.
As chief management officer of the city, that’s something the Assembly can only address if they change the city charter.
“Judy is the Deputy Director of the Library responsible for day to day operations, and she has been acting as such for nearly a month. During the past month, I have assumed the administrative responsibilities of the Director of the Library under my authority established in Anchorage Municipal Charter,” Demboski said in response to a question from Must Read Alaska.
Demboski said that there is a process for hiring a new library director and that process is underway, and is in the interview stage.
