[Publib] FW: Employment Laments

[Morse, Angela]

If your job applications and cover letters were filled with as many
typos and grammatical errors as this e-mail, I can see why you were not
hired.

 

Signed,

-A younger, tech savvy, multicultural librarian.

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Terri Bonow
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 8:10 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] FW: Employment Laments

 

	
	
	

	Laments of a Public Librarian:

	 

	I first off would like to apologize about the "laments" part of
the focus of this essay, letter, and plea.  I have always tried to be a
positive librarian, and in general I have a happy sunny disposition. I
love library work and am dedicated to the profession.  But this last
year has me wondering about the library profession I have chosen in
which I been working in for 18 years. I need to express my rejections
and ask other librarians why?  I wonder why it has been so very hard to
get a full time job! I think I have been discriminated against and
because of ageism, and being white.

	 

	I have spent a year trying to break in to the Public Library
systems or in any librarian job in the Pacific Northwest with no easy
road, or with much support professionally. I am an experienced,
dedicated, and recommendable librarian. I have sent out over 50 resumes
to various companies and libraries including: Microsoft, Boeing, King
County Library System, Tacoma Public Library System, Art Institute of
Seattle, Seattle Public, and many colleges and Universities in the area.
Now any normal librarian would probably be thinking something is
definitely wrong with their resume, cover letter, or interviewing
skills, however I was stalwart and persistent because I had a great
education at San Jose State Library School where I got good grades. I
have had fantastic experience, varied skills from management, reference,
special libraries, and archival skills, and I have good resume. My
references I believe are behind me and have given me the nod of
approval, and I have had successful jobs in different states before
returning to my hometown, Seattle. Since I was a graduate from the
University of Washington, I went to the career center and got career
counseling, did mock interview, took classes, and attended job fairs to
improve my chances.  Believe me my ego would slump each time after I
would get an interview and then a rejection letter, e-mail, or call. It
has been really horrid to have to go through the process of trying to
get a job and never having any success or support in the process.  

	 

	Finally after 6 months I did get hired for a substitute (they
called it Intermittent) position with Seattle Public Library and worked
a hectic weekly schedule filling in at several branches in one day. I
worked between 22-30 hours a week with no benefits and no pension fund.
At my age pension in very important and I miss having it. The cost of
living in Seattle is very high and on my wages I can not be independent
and support myself.  I did like the mutability of jumping around and
serving various communities with an excellent collections, and in the
new "Libraries for All" the nation's largest public Library renovation
to date. The intermittent position lasts only 2 years and I have been
not offered any alternative or full time employment even though I have
been reliable and able. I wondered and was in awe at the community
diversity, the art, and well thought out architecture of the branches. I
was not selected to work in the Central Library's Ram Koolhaus building.
But the branches were very stimulating and I did a great job keeping the
questions answered at busy reference desks. Still I await an opportunity
for full time work. I have interviewed for over 5 jobs at this system.
It is extremely competitive to work in one of the most literate cities
in the country. 

	 

	The George Bush administration, with proactive Librarian, Laura
Bush acclaimed as a bright leader in the promotion of librarianship, has
supported Institute of Museum and Library Services funding education and
outreach for new librarians. According to the professional librarian's
library literature the aging librarians in the field need replacing.
However, I have felt the cold chill of being discriminated against
because of my age with the flooding of the librarian market of jobs with
new tech savvy and eager librarians. I really felt I was competing with
youth and multiculturalism. Being in my mid fifties and white offering
valuable experience was not regarded but ignored by employers. Most of
the jobs I had applied for were filled with younger and culturally
diverse librarians. I do not resent other younger, multicultural
librarians, I resent that various library managements who promoted
nepotism, eager naive youth, and have over looked my skills, abilities
and valuable experience. I am discouraged by the non inclusive feeling
of these Northwest Libraries and am saddened by the lack of
opportunities in a field I always thought was unbounded, full of
opportunities, and limitless in job options. We are relocating due to
job limited opportunities here. 

	 

	 

 

________________________________

Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join
you on Windows Live(tm) Messenger. Invite friends now!
<https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_InviteFriends> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/publib/attachments/20080603/0e3fc61e/attachment.htm