As I told you in my episode 29, Masterful Librarian is Back, I’ve returned to work in a library again. And those of you who have been listening to my podcasts are probably wondering about that.  After all, in my very first episode, Why I’m Glad I Lost my Library Job, I said I was kind of burnt out on working in libraries and, at the time, that was true.  But after a year and a half away, things have changed.

Teamwork

The best thing about being back in a library is the teamwork!  I love working with a dedicated group of like-minded individuals. Much of my library career, including this last year as a Librarian Success Coach,  has been spent in solo situations.  Although I loved those jobs and often worked on cross-departmental teams in those organizations, there’s nothing like working with a group of your peers to envision, develop, and improve collections, programs, and services. 

When I work alone, I get things done and have ideas.  But when I work with a group toward a goal or objective?  The ideas just seem to flow like a great river and the completed work boggles my mind. There’s nothing I love more than a free-flowing, but targeted, brainstorming session or a well-facilitated meeting to create action steps toward a goal. These things really get my juices flowing and I love it.  

And here’s what’s important.  Sometimes we don’t realize how much working and being around like-minded people energizes us and brings joy to our days. It’s easy to get frustrated or irritated by co-workers when we’re with them day in and day out and to start thinking we’d love nothing better than to escape to a quiet, secluded place to work. And sometimes we need to do that – for a little while.

But I believe that most of us, especially those called to work in libraries, are simply better together.

Libraries & Librarians Matter

Way back in episode 2, I told you all how much you matter to your users and the community.  If you haven’t listened to Librarians, You Matter More Than You Know, you can find that masterfullibrarian.com/ep2. And it’s true. Libraries are one of the most vital institutions in society and that’s only because of the librarians who work in them.

Although my work with Masterful Librarian certainly contributes to that greater good, I’m definitely more in the game now.  I love knowing that everything I do in my role at the library contributes to making my community, our society, and the world a better place.  

That’s pretty important stuff.

And the same thing is true for you in whatever role you’re filling at your library. Even if you’re in the most junior level positions you’re making that kind of difference.  

If you’re at the Circ desk, or shelving in the stacks, or sorting and processing  book returns, you’re still an essential cog in the big and beautiful wheel called a library. Never underestimate your power to make an impact in your library world.

For complete show notes, please go to masterfullibrarian.com/ep28