City Hall News / MONTEREY PARK : Racism Charged in Librarian’s Ouster

In an action that library staff and several patrons called racially motivated, the Monterey Park library board last week forced the resignation of City Librarian Jeannette Cheng, one of two Asian city department heads in the majority Asian community.

The president of the city’s Friends of the Library--a white woman--denounced the action against Cheng.

“I really think this was racially motivated. A groups of Caucasians--old timers--were very upset when an Asian was appointed librarian and wanted her out,” said Tisa Levine, who heads the group that raises money and provides volunteer services to the library.

The four members of the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library Board of Trustees who met last Thursday to discuss Cheng’s dismissal gave no reason for forcing her out; a written statement made no mention of the nature of the resignation.

“Ms. Cheng expressed pride, and the board expressed its appreciation for Ms. Cheng’s efforts as city librarian,” the statement said. When interviewed, none of the board members would discuss the allegations of racism.

Over the objections of many staff and supporters who called her “a great team leader,” the trustees asked for and got Cheng’s resignation after a long meeting, most of it behind closed doors.

Although the library is considered a city department and is financed by the city, the five-member board controls the library independently of the City Council.

Cheng, a Chinese American, took over as city librarian two years ago. She previously had worked in the Madison, Wis., library system.

After agreeing to take a $60,000 buyout and to refrain from discussing the matter publicly, Cheng was relieved of her duties Friday and will formally leave her $57,000 post Sept. 1.

“I’m very angry, but I cannot go on without the board’s full support,” she said in an interview before signing the agreement. “The board said I’d given too much attention to the divided community,” a phrase she interpreted to mean the Asian community.

Board President Kathleen Brzozowski said the terms of the buyout do not allow her or other board trustees to comment, but she did say, “(Cheng’s) previous evaluations haven’t been satisfactory.”

Only trustee Marina Tse, one of two Asian American members, openly voiced support for the librarian. The other Asian American member, Carolyn Chan, was part of the three-member majority that sought Cheng’s resignation.

This isn’t the first time that racial issues have touched library politics. In 1987, the City Council took control of the library from the board, saying it had too many foreign language books. Then-Mayor Barry Hatch declared that Chinese-language books donated to the library should be kept in a separate building.

Civil rights organizations sued to reinstate the board and a judge agreed.

Supporters of Cheng had plenty to say at Thursday’s meeting. “I like what I see . . . if anything over the last few years she has improved things,” said Debra Salz, a local teacher who takes her daughters to the library.