Learn from Lexington: Document Expense Records Scrupulously

A very angry Lexington (Ky.) Public Library Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Imhoff called ALA Friday, May 1, upset that American Libraries Direct two days before had carried a link to an article in the Herald-Leader newspaper that characterized charges to her library credit card over the past five years as, at the very least, lousy stewardship of public money. Imhoff was responding to what she felt was an attack on her reputation as an effective and innovative library director, as well as a leader in the profession.  I suggested that American Libraries Online publish a story in which she could tell her side of things, to balance out what she said was an unfair and "inaccurate" story in the Herald-Leader. You can read these stories for yourself, and decide what's fair and what's accurate. I spoke with Lexington library board chair Burgess Carey about the AL piece, and I must say that he seemed the voice of reason when I spoke with him, never questioning the newspaper's right and responsibility to scrutinize public expenditures and, indeed, stating that there was nothing technically "inaccurate" about the newspaper article. But he also praised Imhoff as having fulfilled her mandate "to be more public than our previous director" while bringing the fiscal year to a close "under budget every year." He also told me that he thought the public had been given an unfair perspective by the newspaper article, and that he could understand how "without explanation," any number of the expenses charged to Imhoff's credit card "would raise eyebrows." Following my conversation with Carey, I received a testy e-mail from John Cheves, the reporter who wrote the article, defending its accuracy. Then I got a call from another editor saying the newspaper was preparing a follow-up story, prompted by the fact that Imhoff had told AL the board was considering "taking action" of some kind in her defense. To Sharon Walsh at the Herald-Leader, that meant legal action, and their defense against any legal action the board or Imhoff might take would be the accuracy of the article. Imhoff has since called me and told me that her statement about the board possibly "taking action" was her own speculation and did not come from the board, a board that has, remember, backed her all the way. In the follow-up story Cheves reported that "Imhoff, an ALA member, said she told American Libraries editor Leonard Kniffel that she wanted him to write her version of events." Can I call that statement inaccurate? What I told the Herald-Leader (and I spoke to Walsh, not Cheves) was that I offered Imhoff "an opportunity to tell her side of the story."  For my part, there are a couple lessons all of us can learn from Imhoff's experience this month in Lexington. One is not to fly off the handle because a newspaper reporter does his job. If there are corrections to be made, the newspaper will make them; otherwise, all the accusations of inaccuracy you can hurl won't help your cause. And secondly, look at your records, policies, and expense forms now, before the you-know-what hits the fan.  If you are attending a professional conference in Honolulu, or wherever, your records should justify every dime you spend.