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Suture Up My Future
Oh, lovely. It looks like my former profession in my former state of residence is in big trouble:
As has happened in other states, cash-strapped schools in Washington state are dropping librarians to save money: This year, Federal Way cut 20 librarian positions. Spokane reduced 10 librarians to half-time. Darrington cut two librarians. A school in Marysville eliminated its half-time librarian.Libraries are open fewer hours, programs minimized, jobs combined. In many cases, part-timers with little formal library training are replacing skilled veterans. In rural Pomeroy, a school now employs a combination custodian-librarian — she opens the library after cleaning the locker rooms.
I managed to secure full-time employment as a school librarian for three years in Seattle, but I was also the network administrator for the school in which I worked. And sure enough, when I left the position, the school changed it to part-time.
In a related note, this is as good a time as any to reveal that I’m no longer a public librarian either. Two weeks ago, I resigned from the position I started in August. I already have a new job lined up, as a systems admin for an IT firm. I plan on volunteering at the local public library after I get settled into the new job, but after ten years in the profession, I’ve discovered that I like libraries a hell of a lot more when I’m not in one 40 hours per week. (Plus, the IT job pays better, and with a 100+ year old house in desperate need of repairs, I need the extra money.)
The question is: can I still consider myself a librarian, even if I’m no longer a library employee?
