I would agree with Julie. I looked after the IT for a public library system for ten years and was not bored. The statistics and management information requested by colleagues suggested they were active and dynamic too. We were lucky in that we were reasonably well funded - there was stress related to those working where libraries were closed or threatened because they were seen as non-essential services.
Helen Wright,
Library and Knowledge Manager,
National Public Health Service for Wales,
P.O. Box 108, St. David's Park,
Job's Well Road,
CARMARTHEN. SA31 3WY
Tel : 01267 225077 WHTN: 01820 5077
Fax: 01267 223337
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Intranet: http://nww.nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Internet: www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Helen Wright,
Gwasanaeth Llyfrgell a Rheolaeth Gwybodaeth,
Gwasanaeth Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cenedlaethol Cymru,
Blwch SP 108, Parc Dewi Sant,
Heol Ffynnon Jôb,
CAERFYRDDIN. SA31 3WY
Rhif Ffôn: 01267 225077 WHTN: 01820 5077
Ffacs: 01267 223337
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Intranet: http://nww.nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Internet: www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julie Ryder
Sent: 13 January 2006 09:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Stressed librarians!
I feel someone has to fly the flag for public librarians. I worked in
public libraries for many years and, strangely, I
don't remember being bored - exhausted, frustrated and extremely stressed,
but not bored by endless repetition. I never felt there was endless
repetition - just that there was always about another five years work to do
to provide the level of service I wanted to - that was in the community care
field - working with people with disabilities and providing services to
people in their own homes - housebound in old jargon! I always felt very
lucky to have such a high level of job satisfaction. Not everyone in public
libraries is so lucky, of course. As with everywhere else there were
difficult users, but the major problems I had were internal - lack of
resources, changing goalposts, endless targets, endless restructuring and
possibly worst of all, lack of support from above. That was what caused the
stress.
Well, that's got that off my chest!
Julie
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