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Moving Onward and Upward in the Wake of Adversity
by Pam NorthWhen we embark upon something new - a journey, a lifestyle change, or a new career - we have a perception of the level of stability we expect, the level of stress we will encounter, and the amount of reward we will gain. Sometimes these perceptions are right on the mark, and we are pleased that we have made the right choices. Sometimes, however, our initial impression is out of whack and we are surprised by what we encounter.
Many of us enter librarianship with the belief that it will be a stable, relatively stress-free career with countless rewards in the form of appreciation (if not riches). What I have encountered is a personally rewarding, yet uncertain and challenging profession. Not that I'm complaining! Finding the positive in the negative seems to have become one of my specialties.
My library journey began when I earned my MLS and switched careers in my mid-thirties. The first nine years of life as a librarian were bliss. I worked my way up from a library media assistant in a public high school to the deputy director of a growing suburban public library. I was comfortable and optimistic about what my future could hold.
One beautiful spring morning, though, a two-month-long series of events was set into motion that 1) saw my position eliminated in 60 days, 2) our director resign to move to another city, 3) city administration require an outside consultant be retained to justify the need for someone to manage the library, and, ultimately, 4) my hiring as Library Manager only days before my previous position was to end.
Stressful? You tell me.
What I learned during this tumultuous time and in the ensuing months has been that, even when it feels like the plush rug of security and stability has been swept from beneath your feet, there are ways to make things work - to remember that, indeed, you made the right choice.
#1 - Don't take it personally
Usually upheaval in the public library world has to do with dollars and cents, not your abilities as a library professional. The sooner you can rid yourself of the voice that keeps nagging that it was something YOU did, not something you have no control over, the sooner you can start seeing the positive and begin to move ahead. Doubtless, being downsized can be one of life's most deflating experiences - but it can also be the beginning of something new.
#2 - Turn crisis into opportunity
Look for possibilities, not roadblocks. Once you determine you can move on, look to things that elevate your potential, not those that keep you in a quagmire. I found that I had the latitude to stretch the boundaries of what I thought I was supposed to be doing as a library professional and really stretched myself to try new things. Where I had always said, "I'm a words person, not a numbers person," I saw that it was in my best interest to learn how to craft a spreadsheet and learn more about local budget law - two things that have now served me well.
#3 - Make the best out of the worst situation
Be a hero. If to no one else, be one for yourself. Maintain a positive attitude and a professional manner. Keep your sense of humor and learn to rely on your strengths and intuition. Don't let them see that you feel you have been let down - forge on with your head up. (But, you can shed a tear or two at home - just ask my husband.)
#4 - Know that change is difficult but inevitable
A tired saying, but true. As you are going through your metamorphosis remember that others might not be comfortable following along. Some people will never be able to adjust to change and they will find their own means of making peace with the differences in you and your workplace.
#5 - Listen to wise voices
There are mentors all around us - they may be younger, in other professions, even in the line at the grocery store. Be open to what they have to say and be open to accepting their support. You don't want to shut people out, thinking you can "do this on your own." This is the time to embrace the opportunity to learn from others. Listen.
I was fortunate to have extremely supportive coworkers, some incredibly wise mentors, and a caring spouse that helped me deal with a very complex and stressful time in my career. To say that I have grown is an understatement, I have learned to take responsibility for my future and to "steer the craft" of the library, hoping that I can avoid the rough spots, or at least make them seem less jarring for everyone on the staff.
Pam North is the Library Manager of the Sherwood Public Library in Sherwood, OR. She is a 1997 graduate of Emporia State University's Oregon regional program and a member of Beta Phi Mu.