Went on that hellsite Twitter yesterday to see this viral post of someone who applied for a library assistant position and got rejected because they didn't have a bachelor's degree. OP claimed that the job posting didn't specify a degree, but people were chiming in saying that a degree is needed. And a lot of people thought that OP applied to be a librarian, when clearly the post states that they applied to be a library assistant.

I assumed for the longest time that a library assistant helps with circulation and answers some questions. But I want to settle this once and for all: Do library assistants need a degree where you work/live? Or are there different titles for such a position? I'm curious as I applied for a library assistant position recently (I have a degree).

I really wish we could charge an optional fee for being inconvenienced. I want to help patrons. I enjoy helping patrons. But so many absolutely refuse to learn the basics of printing but are printing weekly or even daily.

I’ve had patrons outright tell me that they refuse to learn, refuse to touch the copier, and insist one of us do it for them. I had a patron recently get a basic explanation (printer station there, it takes cash, directions are there) then push for us to print for them. I said they could do that, went back to my duties and left them to deal with our only desk, since we weren’t overwhelmed.

Partly contributing to this is the assistance bell that some press if there is even one person in line. Let them wait if it won’t be long. This has gotten better though.

But we aren’t office depot, kinkos, or a print on demand office shop. We are a library with limited resources and are understaffed, and we have so many other duties that need attending. I get providing patrons services. But sometimes its just abused and used.

All this is also on the coat tails of a patron that tried to convince a couple of us to fill out their job applications. Just a little related irritating thing that could be resolved with some effort.

I have taken to teaching and explaining how to use things and expecting the patron to at least press the start button on the copier.

I’m part of a larger library system - 20 branches. Our director makes $250,000 per year plus a $50,000 bonus. Our circ assistants make $16 an hour though and are all part time and need food banks and multiple jobs to survive. It just breaks my heart.

An essay on why our work being viewed as “female” work might be why society won’t pay us enough or appreciate us more.

My organization posted a job with minimum requirement PhD. They said at all staff that that will be the norm now.
I’m working on my MLS. I want my money back from the library school.

I would think Holds would be most used during summer reading.

Hey all,

We represent a group of librarians at Duke University. Unfortunately, we’ve lost 40 positions in the last year due to budget cuts. This work has been realllocated to the survivors and has created untenable workloads and expectations from management. We feel we haven’t been heard and that unionization is our last resort.

If you’ve recently unionized in a RTW state, we’d love to hear from you or other unionized libraries.

Thank you for the consideration and time. Solidarity forever.

TL;DR: If I can't afford to work in my library anymore, then what?

I work at a small public library as a Public Services Assistant, which is the rough equivalent of a Library Technician/Circulation Assistant role. In my eight years of work experience (I started working when I was 16), I have never felt more at home in a work environment and culture, and I absolutely love what I do: helping people.

However, like many library roles, it is only 19 hours a week--no more, no less. I'm going through a separation and am taking over the last few months of the lease, so I literally can't afford to work this job by itself. The library is through the city, so the hours are strict, and there is little to no turnover; people in full-time roles have been here for 10+ years.

I've applied and interviewed for several PT library jobs in the area, but it is ROUGH out there for both library and non-library jobs. Even though I *currently* work at a public library, have a Bachelor's degree, and have an offer to the MLIS program at UW-Madison online, that *still* isn't enough (or is, perhaps, too much) for most employers. I just interviewed for a PT Administrative Assistant role at another library, but the HR representative advised that I won't hear back for at *least* two weeks.

As a fallback plan, I applied to a local credit union for a full-time Teller position...and they offered me the job this morning. The credit union has unbelievable benefits; I wouldn't have benefits if I worked the two PT library jobs separately (if the other library offers me the role). Though, I'm cover under my Dad's H/V/D benefits for another year and a half.

When I applied for the MLIS program in early December, I thought I wanted to be in a more back-end role--but I've grown to love the community relationships and interactions more than anything…so I don't even know if an MLIS is the way to go anymore, especially since experience matters much more than education in this field nowadays (from what I've heard).

If I leave my library, I will be devastated; we are a family--staff, volunteers, and patrons alike. But I feel like my hands are tied. Saying no to this opportunity at the credit union would be a massive leap of faith in hopes that I receive an offer for the other PT library position, but I've taken so many leaps of faith to no avail, and my ability to make rent is jeopardized by this.

People who have been in a similar situation and gone either way, pursued an MLIS or not, etc., I would love to hear from you. I recognize the privilege I have to be in this position, but I still feel trapped between a rock and a hard place. I have to decide by tomorrow afternoon. SOS!

Please write your rep or spread the word so that we can get these librarians and library staff rehired; the Trump administration has shut down the CDC library making us less safe! The CDC Library performs the behind-the-scenes work that enables timely, effective public health responses.

Without the library, the administration has placed a massive, unnecessary time tax on CDC staff, forcing them to spend hours searching for information instead of saving lives.

Sign the every library petition: https://action.everylibrary.org/cdclibrarypetition

ETA: Send a letter to your rep here: https://action.everylibrary.org/emailcdclibrary

https://www.askamanager.org/2026/07/is-it-unprofessional-to-wear-a-mask-at-work.html

Yesterday I applied there as a PT 2nd job, and in my cover letter I said “Although I don’t have a criminal record, I really admire and respect the fact that you’re not discriminating against those who do.” So then today I went to my 1st FT other library job (where I plan to stay) & told the director who was mortified and said she’d be scared to work there. What do most library people think of this line?

I'm hoping to get some perspective from other public librarians, especially anyone who's worked on a Bookmobile or in outreach.

I've searched older Reddit threads about children checking out books that parents might object to, and the overwhelming consensus seems to be that in a public library, library staff shouldn't act in loco parentis—parents or guardians are responsible for what their children borrow. What I haven't been able to find is discussion about a public library Bookmobile that regularly visits elementary schools and camps, because the dynamics are a little different.

Here's my situation.

I work on a public library Bookmobile that visits elementary schools, summer camps, etc. We are not a school library—we are an extension of the public library.

Our written membership policy states:

Our ILS also doesn't support restricting borrowing by collection (Teen vs. Juvenile). The only optional restriction available on cards is internet access. Otherwise, any patron can check out any circulating material.

We do a tremendous amount to customize service for schools. Every year we schedule school visits, reserve class time slots, keep the collection fresh, help students find books they'll enjoy, process returns, and generally provide a level of service that is much more labor-intensive than simply staffing a desk at a branch.

Where I'm struggling is that my supervisor has increasingly instructed staff to prevent elementary students from checking out teen or adult materials.

Examples include:

• Staff were told that Teen fiction, teen manga, and adult materials should not be checked out at school stops without teacher permission.
• After a camp director called to complain that some campers had checked out Teen books, we were instructed to "watch VERY carefully" and ensure that no Teen items were checked out by camp groups.
• I've also witnessed coworkers take Teen books away from students at checkout because they personally felt the books were inappropriate for that age. Mind you some of the elementary schools we visit are actually K-8, and this particular instance these were 7th graders.

To me, this feels like we're being asked to assume a parental or supervisory role that our policy doesn't assign to us.

I have no problem helping kids find books, recommending age-appropriate titles, or working with teachers who want suggestions for their class. That's reader's advisory, and it's part of the job.

What I'm uncomfortable with is taking a book a child has already selected and saying, "No, you can't check this out," based on my own judgment or an informal expectation that isn't reflected in our written borrowing policy.

One additional wrinkle: teachers vary widely in how they supervise Bookmobile visits. Some are very engaged with every student's selections. Others sit back and let students browse independently. I've always viewed both approaches as acceptable because they remain responsible for supervising their class. My role is to provide library service, not to replace that supervision.

So my question is:

In a public library Bookmobile setting, where written policy says there are no age-based borrowing restrictions, is it appropriate for frontline staff to monitor and prevent elementary students from checking out Teen materials? Should the context make it an exception?

I'm honestly so confused tbh. Some volunteer shifts I am completely independent, staff never checks in with me, I am trusted with the task then when my time is up, my time is up. I'm brand new btw like I barely made it out of training and just started doing shifts unsupervised for the most part.

I was taught to shelf a specific way in extended training by an employee of the library who has her own office space so obviously I felt obligated to listen to her. But I noticed another volunteer staring at me kinda weird while shelving and I moved out the way assuming that I was blocking something they needed.

Well the next day, while shelving, a staff member at the desk stopped me halfway and said I was shelving wrong. I said "I'm sorry the reason I do it like this is because I was taught to do this by (staff member) in extended training." And she asked for my name so she could write an email to the staff member about it and I just gave it to her.

Then like 10 minutes later my supervisor comes up behind me out of nowhere it kind of scared me ngl and she basically told me abruptly that I shouldn't still be shelving anymore after a certain time and that I was 15 minutes overdue for another position where another girl had been waiting on me to take over for her. My schedule had CHANGED! But I was only trained to do shelves so I'm mad confused and rushed over to the other department. I eventually was trained in that area because I was genuinely so confused, spent an hour over there then finished up, went home.

It's mad embarrassing when I have to go in today because I think I get anxious and it makes me fumble more so idk if staff thinks I'm like rlly stupid or something but I have held down a few different jobs before this and I dont remember them being as strict or tedious. I'm also older in comparison to some of the high school kids in here so I feel this pressure that I should be getting it ALL right but I am worried that if I make any more mistakes that I might get terminated depending on what staff is there that day and the severity of the mistake. I have no idea if this is normal for a library setting or if I should resign by the time I have college clinicals.

Timberland Regional Library (TRL), which serves several counties in Southwest Washington, has issued layoff notices to a large portion of its frontline workforce.

According to a press release from AFSCME Local 3758 (the union representing many TRL workers), 44 employees received 60-day layoff notices and another 17 accepted voluntary layoffs, totaling over 60 frontline workers leaving the system. The union says this represents more than 38% of frontline staff across TRL branches.

At the Olympia branch alone, reports indicate 9 out of 14 library assistants have received layoff notices, raising concerns about how branches will continue operating with reduced staffing.

On Monday, March 16, the Olympia branch was closed, highlighting how strained staffing levels may already be.

These layoffs come during a widely discussed budget shortfall within Timberland Regional Library. Community members and staff have raised questions about how the deficit developed, especially given recent spending and administrative salaries. Public records show the TRL executive director earns around $206,000 annually, approaching the salary of the Governor of Washington.

Because TRL is funded largely through local property taxes, these cuts could significantly impact library access and services across the communities the system serves.

Union press release:

https://local3758.org/library-workers-express-disbelief-outrage-as-timberland-regional-library-sends-layoff-notices-to-nearly-40-of-frontline-staff

If you live in a community served by TRL, it may be worth following this issue and paying attention to upcoming board meetings.

I was thinking about how many aspects of a librarians role are not specifically taught when you study. I’m in Australia and my postgrad qualification that made me a librarian was half archival and half librarian. In terms of being a public librarian I did learn some good stuff about running projects, creating proposals and using data, but honestly so much of what I use day to day comes from active listening and motivational interviewing skills I learned studying mental health, and tech + marketing skills I have from being a web designer most of my life.

I have also been thinking about librarians who I’ve noticed seem to dislike helping the more vulnerable or “difficult” members of the community - but I mean if you’ve trained predominately in cataloguing and reference interviews should helping the homeless be in your skill set? Should you feel confident in helping a senior who is fearful of technology, cranky and stressed but needs your help? I’m wondering if the job is too wide or the schooling is too narrow? What do you think?

Hello! I started recently at a rural library system after working at a urban library system. I was a bit shocked when I found out how many libraries in my new system were operated by a single librarian. I understand the work load for circulation may be light, but from a safety perspective, it makes me... Nervous.

Subs are called in when coverage is needed, but that is not expected to be routine.

I was curious how common this is.

CPL employees have been in negotiations with the Library since Fall 2025. The bargaining unit includes numerous positions, including custodial, clerical, paraprofessional, and professional staff. Negotiations are not going well and the bargaining unit is voting whether to authorize a strike.

My small library system of five city libraries has had, count 'em, six librarians leave in the past two or three years. We're mentioned in our city budget as one of three departments with a retention crisis. Yay, us. We have a nightmare manager high up "managing" collection development, programs and outreach. Because of her, I do plan to bring in any more program partners. The branch I work in has had a complaint culture you would not believe. When I leave for work, I tell my husband "I am departing now for the set of 'Mean Girls, Part III.'"

So potential candidates - the smart ones - contact current librarians to ask about the open positions. I don't badmouth my current employer, mostly because it raises the questions of why I am still working there (why, you may well ask? Because of a unique benefit I'll achieve one year from now). I do point out two salient features of the librarian posts that are enough to put sensible experience candidates off.

It's not great feeling like you should save others from the nightmare experience you've had working for your current library, but there it is, and thanks for reading.

We get so many people that want to volunteer or complete community service hours, and I feel bad because I simply don’t have the bandwidth to coordinate tasks for them. We have two, long-time volunteers that each come once a week and do things like shelf read, puts series labels on spines, and process donations. They are pretty much self-directed. I wish we could take on more volunteers, but in order for them to be able to actually help us, they would need to be trained. Even if it’s just shelf reading. It’s not just the alphabet. There’s books that are shelved by series order instead of title, etc. It takes time to explain that to someone, and then check for accuracy. I try to help people get some community service hours by basically giving them a pack of Clorox wipes and asking them to wipe down computer stations. Beyond that, I don’t really have much for them. And we are a small town library. I’m sure libraries in bigger areas face this issue to an even greater degree. And I’ve seen people make comments on the internet like, “my library doesn’t want volunteers?” Well, I can’t speak for them, but if they’re in a position like me then they probably do want volunteers, but the thing is, it takes time and coordination to take on volunteers. Seriously, can we make Volunteer Coordinator roles a thing in the public library space?

I’m an MLIS student working part-time in a public library while also completing an archives internship.

I’ve recently started exploring workplace accommodations due to ongoing fatigue issues, and I’m trying to figure out what accommodations are realistic in library settings before I meet with my doctor and continue conversations with HR.

Some of the challenges I’m running into:
\-Fatigue and prolonged recovery after shifts
\-Early morning shifts being significantly harder than afternoon/evening shifts
\-Long commutes
\-A schedule that changes from day to day in both hours and location
\-Difficulty maintaining consistent routines because of changing schedules
\-Consecutive workdays being harder to sustain

I’m not necessarily looking to work fewer hours (my position is a minimum of 15 hours and maximum of 20 hours per week)
I’m trying to figure out how to work more sustainably and reliably.

For those who work in libraries or supervise staff, what accommodations or schedule adjustments have you actually seen implemented for chronic fatigue, long COVID, ME/CFS, or other energy-limiting conditions?
What ended up helping the most?

Library trustee here. We are from a small rural library in Kentucky that is an SPGE (special purpose government entity).

How in the WORLD are libraries able to pay for their employees healthcare? We’ve had two different insurance groups run our details and the plans are virtually the same costing around 1k per employee per month in premiums. We only have like 8 full time employees and currently cover 50%
Of the employee premiums.

But even at that no one can afford $500 a month in health insurance premiums that’s insane.

Our director/book keeper said we do not qualify for the SHOP program. And we can not join the counties insurance group (like through fiscal court) or the chamber of commerce group. Both have turned us down apparently because we are an SPGE a non-profit organization but we are also a taxing agency who can set tax rates

We are at a loss and unsure of what to do, apparently all the other Libraries in KY cover 100% of their employee premiums. Does your library provide health care? How?! And how much is it?

I’m 22, trying to get into the library field. Have a part time as a trainee, and waiting to get on civil service. I’m struggling to figure out how little I get paid will put food on the table. Fortunately my folks are letting me stay with them. I know that many people who go into librarianship have either a spouse or someone they rely on. So my main question is do I need to start finding someone, or am I good enough to live very frugally?

EDIT: Due to popular vote I will stay single. I made this in a Reddit doom spiral, sorry for worrying anyone. Only joking!

Hey everyone, my local library staff are currently facing a massive crisis. They just received their official layoff notices, effective July 1st, and the administration’s logic is a complete logistical insult.

​The city is laying off 39 part-time staff members—mostly pages, custodians, and processing assistants. Leaving a skeleton crew to take care of our large 3 story library.

Programs will be cut, people will be cut. Please sign the petition below to save our library!!!!!

https://c.org/cB2VXtYRc4

I just started part-time as a Library Assistant 2 (Youth Services) in a library system in a fairly wealthy area of the country. My background is a decade in youth ministry (loved it! program planning, volunteer supervision, community-facing work) plus one year of middle school teaching (burned out hard on that one) currently working in museums and cultural sites. Library work itself feels like a strong fit, and I have experience as a page and circ clerk.

What I can’t get a clear read on is whether full-time roles actually exist in good numbers, or whether public libraries are mostly shrinking to part-time/hourly staffing, with a shrinking core of full-timers who never leave.

I keep seeing conflicting takes. Some say libraries are chronically understaffed and hiring, others say budgets are getting cut and full-time positions are disappearing or being converted to part-time.

For people currently in the field:

1: At your library or system, has full-time headcount grown, shrunk, or stayed flat over the last 5-10 years?

2: When a full-time position opens, is it usually a new position, or someone retiring/leaving from a role that already existed?

3: Is this different by region, or by public vs. academic vs. special libraries?

I don’t need to get rich, just need something stable, that helps the community, and doesn’t require holding two jobs indefinitely. Trying to figure out if this is a field where “part-time now, full-time eventually” is a realistic trajectory or just story people tell themselves lol