[Publib] Re: Librarian Salaries, Non-Dream-like

[Kate Wolicki]

Okay, I started this, and I'll put in my two cents and maybe have the
last word?  

It was nice to hear the discussion.  We know we are worth more money.
We know that sometimes it feels absurd to be arguing about $3000 or
$5000 out of a total budget, when we know just how hard we work and how
valuable we are to the community.  And we know that there are LOTS of
people in the world who are underpaid for the hard work that they do.
Even a lot of teachers and politicians. ;) 

We also know that outrageous housing prices, which are 1. raising our
library budgets, 2. fueling property tax rebellion, and 3. causing
stress for underpaid librarians who cannot afford to live in the
neighborhood where they can afford to work, seem solutionless: lower
prices=lower budgets=even less money to pay librarians.

I posted the question because I think that knowing what we OUGHT to be
paid is important even when salary ranges are being  determined by
looking at what is paid at other nearby libraries.  Library boards
without both kinds of information generate ill will without knowing why,
either from employees annoyed at their consistently poor salaries or
from taxpayers who think we're wasting tax money.  It would be great if
we could unionize without alienating our communities, but if we cannot,
we must be able to trust our management to inform our Boards about the
Problem of library salaries and benefits.

I am also a bit of a radical on the taboo of discussing money.  I think
if Americans knew what individual Americans were earning, we would stop
assuming (making an Ass of You & Me!) and stop feeling so poor.  I call
for us to write to the newspaper editorial page, telling our salaries to
the world! At least, I call for us to stand up in board meetings and
state our names, departments, years of experience, and salaries so that
board members know in REAL TERMS what such low starting salaries mean,
and why our benefits are so important to us.  I can tell you from
personal experience that it makes a difference in how the board
understands staff salaries and benefits.

Kate Wolicki
Darn Good At Her Job
Adult/Young Adult Services Librarian
Junior High/High School Liaison
Etc Etc Etc
Six years of experience after MLIS, 11+ years in libraries
Salary: $41,000 this year which includes a 457 contribution (no pension
fund here)  
2005-2006 starting MLS salary at this library: $34,125
Niles Public Library District
Niles, IL