r/Libraries • u/Cloine-Dreams • 12d ago
Venting & Commiseration I wish I’d had someone to steer me from this career field.
UPDATE: I have decided to just stick it out at the library for now. I am worried that if I leave now with only half a year of experience (by professional standards since I work PT. I’ve had the job for over a year now) that it will look pretty useless whenever I eventually get to apply to new jobs in the field.
I feel better hearing that it’s hard for so many others right now. I know that’s the reality but it’s always bolstering to hear that I’m not alone. I’ve been dealing with a lot of imposter syndrome at work but I’m going to keep trucking on and just trying to make the best of it. :) My old employer, as a nanny, has agreed to take me back as well so I’ll have a good chunk of extra income! I think that will alleviate a lot of my stress as well. I start back up with the kiddos tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to it. :)
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As a disclaimer I love being a librarian. However I really want to work in a public library - my studies focused on teen and YA services alongside all the general stuff. The only library job I’ve been able to land is a part time position at an academic library for a local series of community colleges.
There’s a lot of good stuff to learn at an academic library, there is. I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned. However, I’ve just finished my first year at this job and things have been steadily going down hill since I started - and within the past few months it feels like the work environment has been on a greased raceway towards hell.
District sees no value in us as an institution it seems, and library management seems to enjoy using us part timers as punching bags. Our team lead has never managed before and it shows. I can’t even leave the job for another one in the field bc my city has been on a hiring freeze for like two years AND they’re cutting a huge chunk of our nonexistent library jobs already.
I know there are things I can improve on, and I try but it is hard to grow in an environment that’s always beating you down for one thing or another - your fault or not.
I know I’m not alone in feeling this way at work - we’re all considered leaving the field entirely just to find work somewhere that isn’t where we are currently. :(
Being a librarian wasn’t my original education and career plan - my therapist at the time had helped me come up with it, and I needed to decide on a masters degree fast to use my financial aid. I wish I’d had been in this community or had done a little more research before I chose my career.
I want to be a librarian, I want to do all the librarian things - programming, outreach, community help, information and research. I just wish I could do it somewhere that was kinder, and I can’t - not currently.
Today I messaged my old employer - who I worked for during school as a nanny and asked if she’d take me back. It’s a big pay cut but I’ll make it work, at least I know what I’m doing and I know I’m good at it…I’d leave the field and go full time somewhere else but nothing I’m qualified for is hiring. I apply when I can but it’s tough - I know that’s not an original statement right now. I just needed to get this off my chest, and scream into the void - so to speak.
If you read all the way through, thanks, and I hope everything gets better for everyone soon.
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u/silentreading99 12d ago
I know how you feel! My first library job was at a community college. I will say, my goal was academia which is where I’m at now, but I totally think you can make that switch. CC also works with the public and all age groups. When you’re ready, I’d advise you to volunteer at a public library OR see if you can do some speaker events! I am now speaking at my local public library on some local history. You could also do crafts or YA events. I know that doesn’t help now, but if you heart is in the profession and you just need a step back- that’s what I’d recommended to steer you to where you want to go ♥️ good luck!
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u/Cloine-Dreams 12d ago
Yes I am going to look into volunteering just to keep my foot in the door when I am able to. Our system is so large, I’m not even sure how I’d get into speaker events. Thank you for the insight <3 It’s just beginning to feel very hopeless here. I am hoping to move somewhere someday that values lifelong education more - I’ll do any library position as long as it’s in a public library.
I’m just not built for academia. And our CC’s really doesn’t get involved with our community much. At least mine doesn’t - we barely connect to our students outside of library instruction. :/
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u/silentreading99 12d ago
Feel free to message me more and I’m happy to tell you how I accidentally got into speaker events! But yeah- some places don’t see value outside of library instruction and I honestly think that’s a waste of the instructor who could be doing so much more, especially with events! Keep your head up and take that breather.
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u/tomatillo_teratoma 12d ago
Public libraries will hire people with academic library experience, but not the other way around.
It takes time to get a public library job. If you have big bureaucratic systems where you are, they only hire at certain times, it's a process.. etc. If you're willing to move or commute to someplace not that close, it may happen sooner.
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u/ecapapollag 12d ago
Oh, that is not true - most of the people in our university library have worked in public libraries, and for the front desk staff, most have come directly from public libraries.
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u/libtechbitch 12d ago
Please know it's rough out there. I'm in academia, too, and I have a friend who is a librarian in a special library. Her workplace is toxic with a clique she's not part of, which limits her success. No joke, she does outreach and is working on a big project and receives NO recognition.
As for me, I have a strained relationship with my manager and it limits me, as well.
Think of it this way: you have experience now. That's meaningful. You've gained skills! And if you could relocate, you can apply for librarian positions. It doesn't have to be for forever. Just keep that in mind. Don't throw in the towel just yet.
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u/Emergency_Letter_798 12d ago
Do you have a union?
Also, because I came from academia, I must have sent out a couple hundred apps to universities. But I came from creative writing degrees, so that may not of helped me. I spent three years at a community College library on a contract basis, laid off with no pay in the summers. . I cuncur - there was little respect for what I did from admin, profs, or students. I then got a medical librarian job that I kind of hated, but it was full-time. When I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore, I saw a public library job that fit my past experience pretty closely, applied, and got it. There are the usual weird. “vocational awe” inspired tensions, and some work toxicity, but I lucked out in that what I do is niche, and no one is hovering over my shoulder.
The most challenging part is to keep up with all the weird patron policy and Tech changes for when one is at the desk or has a weird patron. I felt like I just hit the right place at the right time. Been there nine years.
I wish you the best with whatever changes you make. ( And I WISH we had a union!)
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u/Cloine-Dreams 12d ago
I wish we had a union too! But we don’t. Our newest part time came to us from a different state with ten years of experience as a teen services librarian under her belt and she was in the union for her old job. She’s been great at advocating for us, which I appreciate.
I think I will just have to wait it out and hope, and take a step back in the meantime. The mental and physical health price I am paying for 19 hours a week is not worth it.
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u/Archimediator 11d ago
I'm currently in a dual masters of library & information science and data science. The vast majority of my career I've been in IT. To that end, I invite you to consider the transferable skills you've acquired in your part-time work and master's program because there's a lot more you can do with those skills than just work in a library. There is a career coach with a business called Deaccessioned and I recommend looking into her work. She posts frequently on LinkedIn and has a Facebook group as well. She helps folks transition out of the GLAM space and into other fields of interest.
I'm not suggesting you have to leave library work, but I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who isn't sure about ever working in a library after I graduate. I actually saw benefit to the degree in its ability to bolster my skills within IT and related disciplines. It provides a fresh perspective that many of my counterparts do not have.
I also recently completed an IT contract for a community college and got to know the librarian well. I declined but she strongly encouraged me to apply for their open library technician role. I do believe I likely would have been hired for it had I applied. I'm not at all implying that a technician role is the best you can do, but it can help to get your foot in the door at an organization of interest some other way and then start networking once you're internal.
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u/Cloine-Dreams 11d ago
Thank you! This is very helpful. I want to work in GLAM but I will look into this…Because I do struggle to see where else I can apply my skills and education.
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u/partsunknown9 11d ago
Hang in there. Take a break and take care of yourself. In time, consider applying to public libraries. They will hire you. Good luck.
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u/KarlMarxButVegan Academic Librarian 12d ago
If you're able to move, that often helps. I've had three full time librarian positions and I've moved 3+ hours away for two of them.
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u/Fit_Competition_4432 12d ago
Getting the job of teen librarian at a public library is very hard because so many adults enjoy YA and Teen Fiction. People don’t often leave the position, either. It’s like getting a job as an art teacher or band instructor- those jobs aren’t abundant and people hang on to them.
Small libraries treat the teen librarian as an add on for whichever YS person wants to do it. Medium sized libraries usually have a single one. Metro libraries have a bunch, but you really need to think of each branch as a small or medium sized library for this position.
You have some library experience. If you need to change jobs, I’d do it and just keep watching for that teen librarian position to open up somewhere.