Dunedin City Council library services manager Bernie Hawke yesterday confirmed a consultant had been employed since May after disciplinary issues at the library earlier this year.
The Otago Daily Times understands the consultant is life and business coach Sally Angus, of Central Otago.
Mr Hawke's comments came after an anonymous library source contacted the ODT claiming the library had become "a toxic place to work", where favouritism and bullying had forced some staff to quit.
The source used a copy of the library's May 2011 staff satisfaction survey to support the claims, which contained more than 20 anonymous comments from staff warning of low morale and bullying at the library.
One worker claimed bullying made the library an "unpleasant and hazardous place to work", while another said staff were "scared to speak their mind" about "ongoing bullying that is not addressed".
Another accused library managers of "failing miserably when it comes to staffing disputes".
"A staff member is frightened and at risk of losing their job because of poorly managed personality clashes. This makes it difficult to remain positive," another said.
Mr Hawke defended the organisation when asked about the results of the survey, and denied there was a bullying problem.
"There have been no allegations brought to me of that nature. I believe that they are unfounded."
However, he conceded some "historic issues" had been raised since he took up his post in 2002, and had been addressed through proper council processes.
The survey results provided an anonymous "snapshot" of the mood at the time, which allowed staff to speak with "impunity" and could be shaped by a variety of factors.
Several staff had been involved in disciplinary proceedings earlier in the year, which were resolved "in accordance with council processes", he said.
He would not give details of the "three or four" incidents, saying survey results could be shaped by lingering dissatisfaction.
"My perception is they are highly misinformed and [the comments] have ... been designed in some way to also be provocative and deliberately misinforming.
"I was disappointed some of the comments were poorly informed," Mr Hawke said.
The library employed about 160 full- and part-time workers, 82 of whom answered the survey.
Overall satisfaction levels were down, from 87% last year to 79.3% this year, but remained slightly ahead of the wider council's satisfaction score, he said.
Only seven library staff had indicated dissatisfaction with their immediate managers, and four dissatisfaction with Mr Hawke's performance.
Many staff also used the survey's comments section to applaud the library's working environment and Mr Hawke's performance, or raised concerns about dress codes, pay rates, job security and a lack of space in the central library.
The consultant, employed in May, before the staff satisfaction survey, had the task of "identifying and resolving any issues that could be identified".
The library did not have a high turnover of staff overall, but did in some areas, including part-time shelving assistants and front-counter customer service staff, who were often students.
He denied the consultant cost $30,000, saying the figure - which he would not give - was "less than half" that, and came from the library's $71,300 training budget for 2011-12.
