#realifequestion.

so, the real me is also a librarian. or i rather called myself fresh graduated librarian with only 6 months internship experience from 2016. i got an interview call for librarian position in private college. the pay is good enough and i can start immediately after the school break end this week. but here’s the catch: the only benefit i will get is SOCSO. no EPF, no annual leave,no sick leave, nada. and it turn out, there is no one there to guide me. i mean, i did not do any library work for the past two years and my skill has deteriorate at best, i would rather have senior lib guide me before they gone for good. so, should i take the offer or should i not take the offer, Beanies?

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    Another fellow Beanie Librarian helloo!! (although I’m just a Library Assistant since I’m not qualified but whatever)
    I mean I’m only a part timer because of my health, as that’s very important to me, so no leave or sick leave would be red flags to me. Are the hrs okay that you wouldn’t burn out? How quickly would you learn on the job? *none of this helps you really I’m sorry*

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      basically 9 to 6pm. but you know librarian. the workload will decide whether you go back on time or stay till the work finish. i dont really know, as they didnt even know who can guide me properly, and i have to rely on department staff if i need bathroom break or went for lunch and pray.

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    Optimal stopping strategies (see the secretary problem) say that one should never stop at the first option*. That said, real life is more complicated. I for one did take the first job I was offered because it was almost ideal (the only minus was relocation across ocean)… if the first option is ‘good enough’ with respect to your expectations then go for it. What you need to answer first is: 1) can you afford to wait? 2) is the offer you got something you could see yourself doing (even if just for a while)? 3) Is the pay enough to cover your needs (this includes potential health expenses and the other things they don’t explicitly cover)? Also it helps to have a backup plan/exit strategy – if you end up hating it what can you do about it?

    *Yes, I am a geek.

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    I’m assuming you’re not in the US, where no sick leave would be a huge red flag, so I won’t comment on that part. Just look at what is a typical offer.
    However, I work with a lot of tiny public libraries, most of whom are one person shows with no mentoring from the previous librarian. It’s doable. Truthfully, it can be better not to have a senior librarian there; it can often be detrimental. You will find mentors, librarians from similar institutions, other faculty in the school, other librarians in general, who you’ll be able to ask advice of or brainstorm with.
    Take some serious time to wander the library, look at staff desks, read policies. Get a feel for the real culture of the place and decide if you fit. The rest will come in time.

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    You mentioned you got an interview call, but have they offered you the position? If you’re deciding whether to go down for the interview, I say yes, head there and share some of your concerns about the lack of a mentor.

    Having a mentor isn’t the only way to learn on the job, but are they willing to fund you for some training? Will there be opportunities for you to visit other libraries to learn how they operate?

    If you are not bound by a contractual obligation to stay for a period of time, consider accepting the offer and go through the probation period (it’s usually around 2-3 months). Then review whether you want to commit to it as a permanent hire. The lack of annual leave and sick leave are very big red flags. If after a few months, it doesn’t look like a job that will equip you with good skills, you may have to go elsewhere.

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    I would say if they offer the position they have some faith that you can do the job without guidance from the previous librarian. Without the previous librarian there you have the space to run things how you want them to be run.

    As for not having worked in the library for two years? It comes back to you. I hadn’t been on the circulation floor for a year and hadn’t been on the circulation floor at the library I’m currently working in for 6 years. My first day there–it was smooth sailing, and if you mess up—you’re the only librarian there! Who will know? If its a mistake with a patron, apologize and explain that you’re new and work the problem. You know how to do that.

    There are questions that I would ask, though. If you’re there from 9-6 without any relief how are you supposed to take a lunch break? Does the library close for that time period? Are you expected to eat at the desk and keep the library open? Will you have assistants that you’re in charge of who can man the desk while you take needed breaks for food and restroom? Will the library be ok if you have to go to the restroom?

    You don’t get any sick leave so what happens if you get sick? Will the pay be enough to cover your medical expenses? Will the library close when you’re sick? Or–again–are the assistants who can keep it open? Will you get in trouble/held responsible if the library closes because you are under the weather?

    How is the library job market where you are? If the answers to the questions are deal breakers for you–are there other jobs that you can apply to and let this one go? If you take this job with all of the drawbacks–would you be able to move up or move on to another library? Is this something you can grow with? Why did the other librarian leave? (I always ask why the position is available–I was told once that the potential employer didn’t feel comfortable answering which said to me that some bad blood was going on between the employer and former employee and who wants to walk into that?)

    In my latest interview I was asked how long I intend on working at this library and I said either until I retire or for a year. If i don’t like it enough to retire from there then I’ll stay for a year because I don’t want to look like a library hopper on my resume. I say that to say if you take it and don’t like it can you stay for a certain amount of time and then leave?

    Good luck!

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      huhm…i was told when i ask if im going to be alone running the whole lib on my my own, that other dept staff will cover for me if i want to have toilet break and lunch. it turn the library was under the care of my faculty mate for 11 months until he change work place. too bad im not close enough with him to exchange contact no. back then. so no idea why he left.

      im currently work as substitute teacher and they use my librarian expertise to help the teacher in-charge.she still having problem how library work and the amount of correcting the call numbers and rearranging the collections on shelves is driving her insane and on top of that she teach core subject at school.so yeah, she badly need help from someone who can help with library task. and personally im quite ok with current situation. im relearning to work in library all over again while helping her.

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        How stable is life as a substitute? How is the job market where you are? If you pass on this job how long would it take you to find another library job? You went and got the degree–you probably want to use it! I know I was anxious for my first librarian job after I first got my degree!

        Personally, I think it sounds stressful having to depend on another department to come and step in whenever you have to go to the bathroom or go to lunch. How does that work? You feel the need to go to the restroom so you have to go to the phone, pick it up, dial, wait for someone to answer and then hope that they have enough staff at the moment and are in a position to stop what they are doing to come and sit in the library for a spell? That doesn’t sound optimal. Or, since this is a normal thing for this college do they keep an eye on you and the library as a part of their normal tasks–do they call or stop by habitually to see if you need a quick restroom break? Do they make covering the library a part of their daily schedule?

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          talking with senior librarian here really open my eyes. i was too nervous during interview and to think i will not have any benefit except SOCSO to even think all this.

          personally there are 3 more teacher who are in line for maternity leave this coming months. it will be 60-70% i will be staying for this year until a new library position open up. the problem will be the subject they teach. one is teaching math and accounting which is so not my expertise. the other teach morale studies and local language subject which i can help with. its a comfortable job but not really helping with my resume.

          the second paragraph resonates with me. its really hard to ask other who probably much busier with their own task to cover yourself for few minutes or hour at best. but i didnt know much with their system. they dont even have library website or facebook page for me to get to know their own lib.

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            My two thoughts are this: 1. They don’t have the basics which is both scary and freeing (if they dont know how it should look you can do whatever you want and who can tell you you’re wrong? You’re the expert, here!) 2. They are forcing you to depend on other people and who knows how long thats been going on? There could be resentment thats built up over time that could be taken out on you.

            As for the substitute positions–with the math. Does the teacher not supply the plans before she goes on maternity leave? I would imagine that the students wouldn’t expect you to be an expert since its not your subject. But! You’re a librarian! You can put to good use those skills and find on-line tutorials and databases that you can direct them to for anything beyond the lesson plan that the teacher prepares. From what I remember from my own old high school days the teachers never left super hard things for subs to deal with anyway–but my school system wasn’t known for quality education, either, so.)

            Only you know what you can handle, or what you’re willing to handle. Its easy to sit here and say, “Don’t do it! Something better will come along!” But you’re the one who has to live with the decision. If you wanted, could you take the position–gain valuable experience–and keep looking for another library job. It could surprise you and you could discover that you LOVE it. I love being in the library by myself with no one to answer to.

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