Marian the Librarian (#19)
Do you have a question for Marian? Send it to the editor, Deanna Briggs, at dbriggs@copyright.com to forward to Marian.

Dear Marian,

I was laid off from a small branch of a public library over a year ago. I've been doing some temporary work for the library while I've been looking for another full-time job. Each time I go to the library, the remaining librarian, my former boss, tells me how much pressure she's under to do the work of two professionals and how the library system director just doesn't seem to understand her limitations.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm letting them take advantage of me, meanwhile also  putting my former boss  in a bad spot by helping them with occasional work. (They're paying me; I'm not giving anything away for free.) Am I making it too convenient for them to not have another librarian on staff? My former boss isn't sure about this, but she does let the director know some things aren't getting done because of the staffing cuts. She thinks she can make a strong case for reinstating my position and encourages me to stick around so the director doesn't forget me. I don’t have any strong job leads right now and really appreciate the extra cash. What should I do?  

Budget Hindrance

Dear Budget Hindrance,

You’re in a complicated situation. Your temporary work benefits you and the librarian. By having a temporary worker, the library system can get you to work for them without having to pay for or give you the benefits of having a full-time employee. It’s an especially tricky situation because there may be no guarantees that if you stop or keep working for them part-time, they’ll reinstate a full-time position. They may be able to find someone who is happy to work for them part-time. While your work might be making it too convenient for them not to hire a full-time employee, your former manager has a point about you sticking around so the director doesn’t forget you.

If you and the remaining librarian think it’s necessary to send a stronger message to the director, perhaps you could turn down work for a while to show that it would be better to have a full-time librarian. Make sure your former boss knows the plan, so she doesn’t give up on you and find someone else for the work.

You also might want to encourage her to start making the case for reinstating your position soon.

Good luck,
Marian

Dear Marian, 

I used to love my job and now I give myself a pep talk every morning before going to work. They’re getting longer. I’m worried that one day, my pep talk won’t end in time for me to go to work. I’ve loved my job for the last eight years. How can I fall in love with it again?

Dear Looking for Love Again,

It’s disappointing when a job turns from a labor of love into just labor, but it can happen to any of us. What kinds of things do you really enjoy doing? What did you really enjoy about your job before? Has anything changed recently to contribute to your change in mood? After considering those things, maybe you should take a look at what you’re doing to see if you’re doing less of the things you enjoy. Try to focus on doing tasks you really enjoy for a while. Sometimes starting a new project, taking on a new task, or dropping something you don’t like to do can help. If you haven’t taken a break recently, perhaps taking some time off to recharge your batteries can help. If you choose a trip you’ll hate, it can really make your job look attractive.

Best wishes,
Marian

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