More Crappy Library Job Advice

Why You Should Consider That Job In Smalltown, USA

Sigh. Let me count the flawed assumptions in the premise of this article.

1) It assumes those Smalltown jobs don't have applicants. I can’t believe this, based purely on my own feel for the number of library school graduates in the country versus the number of entry level-ish jobs I see posted. Not to mention how a pretty standard piece of library job hunting advice is the blithe “Apply for any job, anywhere!” There’s a lot of applicants per job. If the jobs are not getting applicants, there might be many reasons other than just location. They may not be advertising anywhere but on their town HR page or the state library association website. They might not be offering a salary that's enough to live on even in that small town, where the cost of living may be low but a second job would be unavailable. It might have red flags all over the place for applicants. It may in fact be an easily recognizable crap job for reasons that have nothing to do with location.

2) Speaking of which, while library job hunters are constantly told to be flexible and apply anywhere, a lot of people who do that never seem to be taken seriously as applicants unless they live in the area. Which yes, I know about the decentralized and diverse library world, but for the love of god MAKE UP YOUR MINDS.

Oh, and be respectful. If someone applies, take her at her word that she will pack up and move to the great beyond and treat her as a serious candidate no matter where she lives until she indicates otherwise.

3) If they don't have applicants they like, maybe there needs to be an adjustment of expectations on both sides. You get the pool you advertise for at the price you want. I really cannot believe the arrogance of libraries that think they should get the sun, the moon and the stars for a tuppence. Believe me, I’m sorry they can’t afford to pay workers more. But then when people get other jobs that use their skill set and pay more, why should they be faulted for seeking the best deal for themselves that they can get?

4) It also assumes that you as an applicant should not be so gosh-darned picky and be grateful for a job anywhere.

Here's the thing--I have been not picky. Not picky in love, not picky in jobs, not picky in friends.

It made me miserable. It sapped my effectiveness. And in the end, it didn't work out. I really don’t do so well reveling in misery. It’s a cozy trap, but still a trap.

Back before I graduated I applied for a couple of middle of nowhere jobs. But then I stopped because I realized that I don't want to live far away from my family in a place where I don't know anyone and where the only outlet of friendliness is work. It would have imported the misery of my Cleveland life to a new location. I don't like being miserable, and frankly it takes so very little to make me happy. So I moved to a place where I have support and love, sun and free grapefruit, and gave up on using my degree in that way. It was a decent tradeoff.

5) The second career problem—look, those small town jobs are great if you’re a young single person with few attachments. Not so good if you have a husband and kids, and that husband has a career of his own.

Who does librarianship like to pitch itself to? People looking for a new career. Where are there a plethora of unfilled entry level jobs? (Supposedly--I actually doubt this.) Small towns. See how this does not match up? Why would a couple decide to sacrifice opportunities for the person whose career is more established and quite possibly has a better earning potential?

But again it goes back to the issue of sexism in the profession. I've mentioned this before, but others have said it too--librarianship seems to like to assume you're married so you can do good, fulfilling, low paying work with the safety net of a man's wallet instead of your own full purse. But face it--economic power, especially now, counts most.

6) Your skills atrophy when you don't have the chance to sharpen them with competition and communication. It's going to be harder to find that in a small town where you have to work harder at making professional connections and finding different problems to solve.

Look, the reason I get so worked up about these issues is that I see librarians hiding in vagaries instead of applying critical thinking to the field and its employment prospects and giving accurate advice to people. It may be that the field is so diffuse it's impossible to give instructional advice. If so, quit acting like what you have to say has anything to do with the real world.