Dupage Policy Journal

In Downers Grove, a proposal to elect the library board instead of appointing its members has sparked heated debate, exposing political rifts in the community. 

The suggestion follows years of controversy over LGBT programming, including the 2022 cancellation of a drag queen bingo event, and pornographic illustrated material aimed at child audiences available at the library. 

Supporters argue that an elected board would increase accountability. 

Regina Hartnett, a former employee of the Downers Grove Public Library, is speaking out about her resignation from the library three years ago, alleging harassment and safety concerns that were ignored by management. 

Hartnett claims that her attempt to address security issues and threats led to workplace retaliation prompting her to leave the position.

She said her story underscores the belief by her and others that the Downers Grove Library should have an elected board instead of a board appointed by the city council. 

“We need an elected board,” Hartnett told DuPage Policy Journal. “Something needs to change for the safety of the staff.”

Hartnett, who previously worked in the circulation department of the library, explained her role prior to her resignation three years ago. 

I worked in the circulation department at the library, right in the middle, the hub where people go to check out books and handle library card issues," she said. 

But it wasn’t just the day-to-day duties that led to her departure. 

According to Hartnett, her problems began after she voiced concerns about safety in the workplace.

"I was threatened and harassed by two different men, patrons of the library,” she said.

One of these men, Hartnett alleges, was a frequent library visitor who had a history of disturbing behavior. 

“He was known for being verbally abusive, threatening, shoving staff,” Hartnett said. “So, you know, physical violence, threats to the library.” 

According to Hartnett, Hoffman had been banned from the library multiple times, yet his behavior continued. 

“He talked about how he was going to f*** up and shoot up the library,” she said. “These are all documented reports. He came in, made gun gestures toward me. That was the first altercation I had with him.”

Despite the threats and escalating behavior, Hartnett claims no immediate action was taken. 

“Nothing was done,” she said. “He was allowed to keep returning to the library. He then started following me outside. He followed me to the ‘rack at the track’ at the little local train station. He started following me making… I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but making me very nervous.”

A second individual allegedly also made Hartnett feel unsafe. 

“(He) is known for also making extremely explicit sexual jokes to all the women staff members,” she said. “He came to me and told me a very explicit, dirty joke. I told him to walk away. I want nothing to do with him.”

The man reportedly returned a week later to harass Hartnett by videotaping her. She said she went to management again, but received little support. 

“They came out, they had a conversation with him and he left,” she said. “No police. He was gone.” 

Hartnett said nothing has changed. 

"Those two men are still there today," she said.

She said there were also reports made of men masturbating openly and looking at pornography in the library. 

Hartnett’s frustration grew after a meeting with Library Director Julie Milavec who has held the library’s top position since being appointed in 2016. 

“She comes into the back room and says to me and with a smile on her face,” Hartnett said. “‘This is what you signed up for, Regina.’ And my manager said, ‘No, Julie it isn’t.'" 

Hartnett said that conversation occurred in front of the rest of the staff in the circulation room.

"So out of advice from my circulation manager, she said, ‘Write a letter.’ So I did,” Hartnett said.

The situation worsened after Hartnett’s letter to management. 

“That was my downfall,” she said. “You do not call Julie out."

Despite receiving an apology from Milavec, Hartnett claimed that no real change occurred. 

The final straw for Hartnett came during a staff in-service day, where safety was a central topic. 

“They brought in the active shooter trainer, Officer Bill,” Hartnett said. “And at the whole meeting, I kept thinking to myself, maybe I should have a conversation with him. Because I’m thinking, no one here is helping me.”

Hartnett took the opportunity to speak with Officer Bill, but her concerns fell on deaf ears. 

“Nobody’s helping me," she said. "She’s telling me that this is what I signed up for. She also made a comment that trouble seems to find me. I was like, wow, that’s really nice. You know?”

After her resignation, Hartnett continued to advocate for better safety measures, even suggesting that the library board be elected by the community. 

“We actually have a policy where if you don’t feel that you got what you need via your manager, your supervisor, your director or the library board, you have the right to seek outside help,” Hartnett said. 

Hartnett said she approached the officer. 

"I asked to remain anonymous and didn't even give him my name," she said.

After she reported the unsafe work environment to the officer she was written up by Milavec. 

“They gave me a performance improvement plan that was full of lies,” Hartnett said. “That's the reason why I left.” 

She clarified that the issues were not political, but stemmed from safety concerns that went unaddressed. 

Hartnett is a vocal supporter of Paul Drabik, a candidate for the Downers Grove Village Council, who is advocating for significant changes in how the local library is managed, particularly regarding transparency and safety. 

Drabik has criticized the removal of a dissenting voice from the Library Board and the board's failure to address issues like inappropriate content and incidents involving safety, such as assaults and privacy violations as described by Hartnett. 

“These are real concerns for parents, and the library needs to respond better to the community,” Drabik previously told the DuPage Policy Journal. “We can’t ignore what children are exposed to in public spaces.”

The removed board member was Bill Nienburg, who faced censure for questioning library policies and challenging the board’s actions, including its support for controversial programs like Drag Queen Bingo. 

Nienburg was censured in February 2024, and the Village Council later voted to investigate his removal, despite no clear policy violations. 

Meanwhile, concerns over improper handling of harassment complaints by library staff and inconsistent enforcement of library policies have further fueled public dissatisfaction.

Drabik emphasized the need for stronger oversight and better response to safety issues at the library.

“The library has failed to implement adequate safety measures, and there’s been little interaction with police,” Drabik said.

Drabik has also criticized the library for hiring a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant who claimed there was "racism" within the library's leadership without providing evidence, highlighting the $157,000 cost of the consultant's services.