Changing Worlds: From School Media Center to Public Library

Wayyyy back in 2011, when I started library school, I was faced with a decision: What kind of library do I want to work in? I did the research, talked to librarians in various fields, and utilized my practicum opportunities to try out different areas. I spent time in school libraries (high school and middle school), public libraries, and academic libraries. I had the thought, and verbalized it several times: "I have no desire to work in school libraries. I am not interested in a career where the evaluation of my performance is based on the performance of students in standardized testing." And yet... after my graduation in 2013 and marriage in 2014, I found myself employed by the local school district, and starting my first full-time library job at a preK-5 elementary school serving approximately 700 students in a high poverty area.
From 2014 until 2017, I worked at this school, and thought I was happy. There were a great many transitions that happened during this years: the change from a 2-librarian team to just one librarian, new principals and assistant principals, new school-wide programming, just to name a few. I adapted, and ran what I thought was an adequate program. There were always frustrations, of course. Children who shoplifted from the book fair, ruined books, parents who refused to pay fines or replace damaged materials, teachers who acted like I was a glorified babysitter. But, I felt like I was fulfilling a purpose - I was giving children the gift of reading! I was inspiring future generations!
Let's be honest with one another - I wasn't doing either of these things. I had 5th graders who refused to check out, week after week, even though I tried my hardest to find books that they would be interested in. I was, on a good week, slogging through lessons for six different grade levels, praying for well-behaved little people, and quelling the anxiety attacks that came with watching students tear through my beautiful shelves day after day.
In the Spring of 2017, my husband and I had decided that his job opportunities were very limited in our area, and we widened our scope. My hope was, since I was officially a certified School Media Specialist in the state of Tennessee, that applying for reciprocity if we moved out of state would be relatively painless. We ended up relocating to South Carolina, where I was placed in school that was very similar to my TN placement - low-income, high poverty students. I spent all summer completing a mini-renovation of the space - painting, demolishing the circulation desk, moving shelves, and weeding. I wanted the space to be a brand new place for teachers and students. I invested hours into this project and was so excited to begin school in August. The school year began in earnest and I just wasn't happy.
To make a VERY long semester a short story: In a fit of anger and frustration with my job situation, I applied at random for various public library positions that were within driving distance of my house. About a month later, I got a phone call from the local public library, wanting to know if I was interested in interviewing for their Children's Librarian position. Of course, I said yes; I figured that if it didn't feel right in the interview, I could decline the position, if they even offered me the job. The director called the day after my interview to offer me the position, which I happily accepted. I ended my tenure as a School Media Specialist the week before MLK day, and began work as a public librarian the week after.
So far, I'm thrilled with the change. Even something as simple as having the time to sit and completely plan a program from start to finish gives me so much joy. I have never felt so prepared for programming, purely because I have the time to plan events down to the smallest detail. Not only are events planned, but I am not an island; I have coworkers who are happy to collaborate and support me! I'm also no longer the police - my job is not to make sure that children are behaving themselves, it's to encourage them to find themselves in books, and foster the sense of excitement that comes with visiting the library.
Do I regret leaving the school system mid-year? I wish that the situation had been such that I could have left at the end of the year. I worry that they will have a hard time finding someone to fill my position (the system struggles to find teachers during the regular hiring season). I miss my people, and some of my students. But I do not miss coming home exhausted and angry.
I'm glad that you have chosen to follow along with me during this transition time. I know that I have lots of learning ahead of me, but I'm ready to be happy at work.

Happy reading!

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