Allan Appel Photo
Korenowsky (right) chats with a branding consultant at the library’s 125th anniversary.
(Updated) Head City Librarian Christopher Korenowksy has resigned.
Korenowsky’s contract will expire at the end of January. Until that time, Korenowsky is on administrative leave, said Claudia Merson, head of the library’s board.
Merson said Korenowsky tendered his resignation at the Dec. 17 meeting of the library board. “He told us he would not be seeking a second term.”
Merson said she does not know the exact reason for Korenowsky’s departure. “I’m sure it was personal,” she said.
Korenowsky could not be reached for comment.
The board did not ask Korenowsky to go on leave, Merson said. She said she doesn’t know if the administrative leave is paid or unpaid. That’s a matter between the city and the librarian, she said.
City spokesman Laurence Grotheer said Korenowsky is out on sick leave.
Korenowsky came to the directorship in 2010, from Ohio. He oversaw the library’s celebration of it’s 125th anniversary, and moved the institution toward an emphasis on “customer service.”
“We compete for people’s time and attention,” Korenowsky said during a library birthday celebration. “Free time is at a premium. We can’t be different from any other industry.”
Korenowsky drew heat from some unionized library staff, who stormed a library board meeting last winter and publicly complained about a “hostile working environment.” Issues included a desire to see more racial minorities hired into supervisory positions, poor communication between Korenowsky and staff, and Korenowsky’s efforts to change work rules regarding the use of part-timers and Saturday shifts.
Merson said any dispute with staff was not a factor in Korenowsky’s departure. “It’s not related to the union. I think the relationship between the library and the union is good now.”
“Christopher did a great job of bringing the library through the strategic planning process,” said Downtown Alder Doug Hausladen, who sits on the library board. “We need someone now to implement that process.”
Hausladen said the library will put together a search committee — representing “all aspects of New Haven” — to find a new director.
“The library is in wonderful shape right now. We just completed a strategic planning process that was incredibly inclusive and set the plan in motion,” Merson said. “Finding a new director will be easy because we know exactly what we’re looking for.”
City spokesman Grotheer said Mayor Toni Harp is just getting up to speed on the resignation and will comment after she learns more from the human resources department.
Melissa Bailey contributed reporting.
The people who "stormed a library board meeting last winter" were city union members and union officials rallying in support of library staff, not library staff themselves. This gave credence to the workers' claims of a "hostile work environment."