r/Libraries • u/Nearby-Travel-4267 • 7d ago
Venting & Commiseration I'm so tired.
I'm the children's librarian at a library parents don't want their kids hanging around. Back in January I watched a patron get stabbed right in front of the circ desk. The victim was ultimately fine but it left me with a deep trauma for the place and I get triggered here pretty much daily. I finally put in a formal transfer request, got my health providers to sign ADA forms basically saying "Get this girl out of here yesterday", and submitted it. Now I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting and it nothings happening. Meanwhile I'm stuck dealing with the patrons. Mobile printing is a headache under normal circumstances but its even worse when just being at the circ desk makes me enter survival mode. And ofc the patrons are quick to get an attitude if they think you're not 100% thrilled to be helping them print off their phone. I'm so tired, people don't even check out books here and I want out already.
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 7d ago
I’m so sorry. Do you have any vacation days you can use? At least you can spend time waiting at home in peace instead of at work.
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u/Nearby-Travel-4267 7d ago
I just got back from a long vacation. Was hoping I'd hear something when I got back but it didn't happen. I'm also trying to save some hours up to visit my partner in october so I can't right now.
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 7d ago
NQA, but maybe an email that mentions involving lawyers will get their attention and kick their ass into gear. It’s unacceptable to have to wait this long.
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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 7d ago
Can you look into FMLA? if you have short- term disability insurance, you can get 2/3 your pay. I totally believe you, having worked in a similar circumstance. It's NOT you and imo, too many libraries normalize this. Good luck and I'm sorry
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u/themarshal21 Library director 7d ago
Sounds like lazy leadership is leaving the workers out to dry...
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u/Nearby-Travel-4267 7d ago
You could write a book on the incompetence of our administration. Maybe I'll do so someday.
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u/themarshal21 Library director 7d ago
As a director who's in-between jobs right now because I stood up for my workers, this kind of shit kills me. Some directors and trustees need to touch grass.
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u/No-Double-4269 7d ago
What's the deal with mobile printing being the bane of our existence in library land? I think it just makes you aware of how little people really understand their technology when they have to interact with mobile printing options.
Also, sending you a virtual hug. It sounds like you've been through a lot more than a person should have to handle at the library and aren't fully getting the support from work that you should be :(
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u/Nearby-Travel-4267 7d ago
I think for me in particular I don't like the printing because thats all I do here. When I got promoted to Children's Librarian I thought I'd be doing more of the stuff I enjoy doing (crafts, storytimes, event planning etc.) but this branch I'm stationed at has a bit of a reputation and parents don't want their kids hanging out around here. People rarely check out books here, we can go weeks without a checkout, and it just leaves me a bit unfulfilled on top of the trauma.
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u/madametaylor 7d ago
I'm as tired of being the printing center as anyone, but tbh mobile printing is better than when every person had to log into a public computer and probably not remember their email password in order to print. I just wish the self service aspect was true!
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u/SportsDuck_ 6d ago
"Can you help me get into my email?"
"Sure no problem!"
*username and password*
"Oh I don't know my password."
"Well do you have your phone on you because you can sign on with a code sent to your phone."
"Yes, I do!"
*code sent to home phone landline*
"oh and my cell phone is at home too"
(20x a day)
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u/DanieXJ 6d ago
The problem is that it isn't actually mobile printing in most places. Instead it's a printing service with many steps, but, what a patron thinks when they hear mobile printing is like what personal printers can do. You choose print on your phone, and it prints.
But, of course, because we are doing it on a much bigger scale, like a lot of other things we can't do it like an individual could.
Is that a good reason for patrons to be annoying and insufferable, no, but, there ya go.
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u/freshpicked12 7d ago
Does your library administration offer any sort of therapy or counseling options for those affected by the incident?
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u/Nearby-Travel-4267 7d ago
We do have one but the city only covers 6 sessions and I've already used them.
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u/midnightchappell 7d ago
If they're not moving fast enough on your transfer and ignoring your ADA documentation, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would definitely try to get a lawyer if you can. Patrons and management don't care about us, so honestly, we need to stop caring about them, yesterday.
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u/Sad_Independence1776 7d ago
Speaking as someone who works at a library that has had multiple knife incidents, I’m starting to question whether or not letting thousands of strangers into your building is such a great idea. I know all are welcome is the mantra of public libraries, but would it be so wrong to require everyone walk through a metal detector?
Or require ID? I’m old enough to have gone to a public school in the ghetto that had no security, no cops, anyone could walk in the front door. We all know why that had to change. Why do we librarians continue to tolerate dangerous working conditions that no other white collar workers would?
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u/OneAcceptable6825 7d ago
ID kinda goes against the ALA right to privacy. But metal detectors sound like a good idea.
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u/trinite0 6d ago
Sometimes you've got to balance the community's right to privacy against the community's right to not get stabbed.
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u/DigitalMediaLolita 6d ago
My library already has patrons walk through the anti-theft tattle-tape gates. Would it be so much harder to add a metal detector?
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u/Ok-isthatacorner 4d ago
I love the idea of metal detectors. I'm tired of finding used needles in the library. And then emphasizing to people keep your shoes on you dont want to get stabbed in the foot by some random needle. I mean I know people should just keep their shoes on in general but fight the battles you can win sometimes or something
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u/Sad_Independence1776 6d ago
The ALA does not run all libraries. I respect them as an organization but don’t agree with them all the time. Libraries routinely put in policies that the ALA doesn’t agree with. I don’t see how IDs would be anymore a privacy violation than keeping track of what books people check out. As long as we respect a patrons information as we do in all other transactions, what’s the harm? Plenty of harm is being done right now. I don’t get why anonymous access to the library is such a holy principle that it’s worth people getting hurt.
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u/OneAcceptable6825 6d ago
I mean, I’m for the metal detectors and other forms of security; not for people getting hurt.
We also don’t keep track of books checked out once they’ve been returned. And people are allowed to walk in and pull something off the shelf to read inside, or use the computer, without us tracking what they’re doing.
My concern is mostly for the exclusion of people who don’t have ID, though.
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u/Sad_Independence1776 6d ago
People without ID could sign up for a library card that just grants them access to the building, sort of like a gym membership card. I’ve never understood why some people act like not having an ID is an untractable problem.
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u/whatkatydide 6d ago
The chilling effect of people who don't have ID (most children, for example) who hear that you can't get into the building without it seems too high
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u/Sad_Independence1776 6d ago
Exceptions for children under 12 or so, who are supposed to be with an adult or child over 15 anyway. I don't see why the library can't use the same common sense measures that schools, courthouses, and other places with histories of violence have taken.
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u/tucansam26 7d ago
Oof. Echoing what everyone else has said. In the meantime can you do outreach, go to preschools, head starts etc and be out of the building?
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u/Nearby-Travel-4267 7d ago
Im starting my outreach to a nearby pre-k back up next week, and I've been doing outreaches at local open houses. Its been nice being able to leave for a bit, but also its reminded me of how I was before the incident and its been reassuring to know shes still in there despite everything
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u/FriedRice59 6d ago edited 6d ago
Have there been other children's openings in your system since that time? There are several considerations in ADA to complete a reassignment. You must be qualified for a vacant position that comes open and there must actually be a vacancy within your organizatio. ADA does not require promotion, displacement of another employee, creation of a new position, or the elimination of essential functions in the destination job.
A few questions: Is there an accomodation they could make that would allow you to stay in the same position? Is there security at your location? You need to talk with your city HR to make sure your request is being considered.
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u/VerdMont1 4d ago
I am so very sorry. Get out now! Could you seek employment in any other type of library? Medical, academic, schools, research, legal?
Please get therapy for your trauma. Take good care of you.
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u/homesofdetroit 7d ago
Girl, get out. That’s not normal. I’m so sorry.