Board 8 > So, give me some input on a life changing decision.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Hey everyone. I think some of you know about how I have been in libraries for most of my professional life, and right now Im looking at another career move. My current library system has been seeing budget cut after budget cut and while Ive been told that I would be safe, Im still yielding to the side of caution. With that in mind, Ive recently come into two opportunities.

Both are for the same county which is a very wealthy area and has been on the rise for some time.

The first position is a DMV office manager. Its a well reviewed location and seems well staffed from everything Ive seen. The pay would be about $2500 more per year than what I make now. The work wouldnt be as fulfilling but it would have a lot of stability and be less exhausting.

The second position is a Youth Service Librarian. It would be pretty much the same job I do now, but it wouldnt have any supervisory responsibilities. It pays about $1500 LESS per year than my current job. It would be more fulfilling but I would take my work home with me more. This library has 20 times the budget as my current job, but I am worried about the stability of the library industry as a whole.

Hours are same across both jobs and the DMV job would be about half the drive.

Obviously Im discussing this extensively with my wife, but more input is always good.

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INCEPTlON posted...

The work wouldnt be as fulfilling but it would have a lot of stability and be less exhausting.

Go for that. Life's too short to be tired from work all the time.

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I dunno, I say go for the more fulfilling job.

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Yeah I think that's important, what KP said. If you find library work exhausting, and think working at a DMV would be less so (to me it sounds like it'd probably be way worse unless you hated children), you may not have made the right career choice.

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less exhausting, $4000 more, less travel time, more stable
vs.
not a manager, taking work home

unless you seriously hate being a manager THAT much, the first one easy.

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haven't we done this poll like three times

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Maybe between other positions but Ive never had a DMV offer before.

I do like working with kids by the way. Just the work is never done and youre always planning and thinking about the next big program or event.

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I've never seen anyone at the DMV who's appeared to enjoy their job even the slightest bit.

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You clearly want the librarian position, because there are a lot of factors running against it and you're still considering it. Can your family's budget take a ~$60/paycheck hit? Would the extra ~$100/paycheck from the DMV make a big difference?

Can you stand what is ultimately a customer-facing office position? DMV's generally aren't fun places to begin with. Is that something you'll dread having to face?

Uglyface2 posted...

You clearly want the librarian position, because there are a lot of factors running against it and you're still considering it. Can your family's budget take a ~$60/paycheck hit? Would the extra ~$100/paycheck from the DMV make a big difference?

Can you stand what is ultimately a customer-facing office position? DMV's generally aren't fun places to begin with. Is that something you'll dread having to face?

The work itself I would certainly appreciate with the library position more, but I can assure you that day to day reference and resource help is as stressful as the complaints the DMV are dealing with. The pay cut would not be a problem though.


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My biggest fear comes down to the security of the Library industry and if it will last until i retire in 30 years. People just dont use them all that much anymore, I hate to say.

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it seems like your current job is probably best tbh.

I mean the DMV? there's no way that job is going to be fun or rewarding at all. the youth service thing might be fun, but if it pays less and comes with risk, then no thanks

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do you have "productive" hobbies you care deeply about?
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colliding posted...

it seems like your current job is probably best tbh.

I mean the DMV? there's no way that job is going to be fun or rewarding at all. the youth service thing might be fun, but if it pays less and comes with risk, then no thanks

For clarification, I currently work for another, much poorer library

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NFUN posted...

do you have "productive" hobbies you care deeply about?

My wife and I live at the edge of the Rockies and enjoy a lot of hiking and walking. Exploring small towns and etc

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INCEPTlON posted...

I do like working with kids by the way. Just the work is never done and youre always planning and thinking about the next big program or event.

So I know a few librarians on a fairly friendly level (my company does support for cities and counties which libraries fall under and I tend to get along with the librarians we deal with) and I've never heard them describe their job as "exhausting" I guess that's why the word choice seemed strange. Like for the most part the long time employees seem to love what they do with the only problem being the pay itself.

Like I guess hating children was harsh. But you have to really be passionate about it though and you may not be. Or you're burnt out or whatever. You just don't sound like other long term librarians I've met.

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INCEPTlON posted...

DMV job would be about half the drive.

This adds up.

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Lopen posted...

So I know a few librarians on a fairly friendly level (my company does support for cities and counties which libraries fall under and I tend to get along with the librarians we deal with) and I've never heard them describe their job as "exhausting" I guess that's why the word choice seemed strange. Like for the most part the long time employees seem to love what they do with the only problem being the pay itself.

Like I guess hating children was harsh. But you have to really be passionate about it though and you may not be. Or you're burnt out or whatever. You just don't sound like other long term librarians I've met.

Youre not wrong. Its been the politics and the constant shrinking budgets that have stressed me out most with library work. Its just becomes depressing to see a continuing decline in use year after year. I really appreciate the input

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