Mich. author fired from library over book sues

LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) -- A former library employee in the Lake Michigan resort community of Ludington who was fired in 2008 for writing a book that describes a range of unpleasant patrons is suing her former employee for wrongful termination. "Library Diaries" author Sally Stern-Hamilton contends that she was "explicitly fired for engaging in protected speech," The Grand Rapids Press reported recently. A scheduling hearing for the lawsuit filed last month is Sept. 14 in Grand Rapids. Using the pen name Ann Miketa, Stern-Hamilton wrote the book she described as a fictional account based on her on-the-job experiences. The town in the book is called "Denialville," and it describes patrons from the merely unpleasant to online sex fiends. A message seeking comment was left Monday by The Associated Press with lawyer Kathleen Klaus, who represents the Mason County District Library and two officials named in the lawsuit, library director Robert Dickson and library board president Marilyn Bannon. The book does not name Ludington, but its photo collage cover includes a small picture of the Ludington library. Library officials learned the author's identity, suspended Stern-Hamilton as a library assistant in July 2008 and fired her 10 days later. In a letter telling Stern-Hamilton she was being suspended, Dickson said the book's subjects weren't hard to recognize. "While you stop short of naming the individuals you targeted in your book, your detailed descriptions of their unique characteristics and mannerisms make them easily identifiable in our small community," the letter said. At the time, library officials said Stern-Hamilton did not appeal the firing within the 10 days allowed under its policies. Published: Tue, Aug 2, 2011