Librarian Fined $500 Over Daughter's Book

A Brooklyn high school librarian has been fined $500, but it isn't a late fee: He's being punished for promoting his daughter's graphic novel on the job.

             Robert Grandt says he only meant to show how proud he was by highlighting his daughter's first book -- an adaptation of "Macbeth" that she co-illustrated -- in a newsletter he distributes as a librarian at Brooklyn Technical High School.

             But the city's Conflicts of Interest Board says he broke an ethics code that warns public employees to refrain from taking actions that could benefit them personally. Grandt agreed to pay the fine.

             Grandt says no one profited from his promotion and that he gave out free copies. He says it's part of his job to "encourage the kids to read new books."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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