Uncertainty leads to examination. Especially in jobs. Do I really like working for my library? Can I be doing more? Are there greener pastures elsewhere? When Covid-19 hit, I knew there was be a massive upheaval in the job world, especially as I saw libraries closing for extended periods of time and librarians having to make changes to their jobs. Librarians are typically smart people and see the way the wind blows and know the lay of the land. I just didn't know I would be apart of this, AND do it twice!
I loved the library I was working for, but I felt I had done all I could do. We brought great ideas to the public, our Library board, and the Friends of The Library, but never got the response I thought we should. For example, in September of 2019 I applied for a grant from a local organization (chaired by member of our library board) for Wifi Hotspots to be both circulated to the public and used for outreach with our library. As part of my MLIS thesis, it was a solidly written application, well researched and fully explained. We needed high speed internet in the community, and could have (in hindsight) used those in the pandemic. My application was turned down on the grounds that funding should be sought elsewhere. A large tech company was moving in and all hopes rested on the giant as savior. Passing the buck to something else was the way of the world there, even though my library board member knew my plan was solid. So, I started asking those tough questions. Is this mentality what I am up against going to change? No. Have I done all I could here? Seems like it. My ideas and notions of a library and it's place in the community (I thought) might be better used in a bigger, more progressive (not in a political sense) town or city. So in the middle of a pandemic, I made a change.
What I got from the new community was exactly what I thought I would. My new town was thriving on civic engagement. Newletters, podcasts, and festival abounded, all promoting their town. What I didn't expect was the absolutely gross stupidity of my leadership inside the library. Rather than making the shift to online experiences, and doing what we could to reach (new) people (while keeping the doors closed and workers safe) our leadership decided on an open door policy to that kept the staff on edge and at risk. As numbers in out county grew, leadership ignored our concern, or doubled down on their stance that the show must go on. Rather than do what was smart (both in the short and long run) they kept to their guns and the staff turn over rate showed. Poor judgement and lack of vision (not to mention a pretty pathetic boss) on the part of the leadership showed me the way. And that way was right out the door.
Once Covid-19 hit, I knew there was be a great churning over of library staffs and reorganizing of the library world. Taking that break like many libraries did during the original lockdown was just enough time for people to look at the jobs closely. Some liked what they saw, others didn't. Actions on the part of leadership and decision makers have changed the minds of even the most stalwart employees as well. I know my ideas of what is a good working environment and library haven't changed, but my willingness to put up with bad working environments has.
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