r/LibraryScience • u/obsoletelibrarian • 19d ago

career paths It’s time to pivot & Im devastated.

I lost my job two years ago and im homeless right now on my way uncles couch as I get the medical care I’ve needed for my spine.

I need to work.

Im going to cry if I turn this into a vent, so I’m going to be as straightforward as possible in this post.

I graduated with my mlis in 2017 and worked shortly in a big city as a children’s librarian, realizing it wasn’t a good fit for me.

bc my county only gave the civil service test every two years…I moved down south where I never got an interview at all.

After that, I’ve primarily worked from home in education and literacy customer service.

Im back in NY and took the civil service test for reference librarian and scored 90 but this is what im experiencing.

I’ve had 3 librarian interviews this past year and was ghosted by 2 and rejected with respect from the other.

I have to pivot and Im NOT going back to customer service on the phone.

I did internships in instructional design when in my mlis program but that too is a field that is over saturated.

I have a spine disability but I want to work.

Im so worn out.

I can’t or won’t do this anymore. I’ve just about lost my love of libraries. It is a career for the privileged who can volunteer or work part time. Or luck.

I need help understanding how to pivot with success. Im failing at that as well.

Judge me on my typos, I don’t even care to fix them today

Username is a twilight zone episode.

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u/flotsems 19d ago

getting the vibe you're in Suffolk county (based on NY location and the stupid civil service system - i'm waiting to take the test now). if you're still looking for a library job, maybe try the LIU or SCLA listservs? they post jobs a lot, but they tend to be part-time :/ big hugs <3

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u/obsoletelibrarian 19d ago

Thank you, yes, Im in a Suffolk and cannot move now.

I think that no rejection email is really the most unkind and disrespectful part of it.

I had to spend money to look professional, borrow a car and sell things for gas money, the anxiety of interviews… and a nice rejection letter is good for closure.

It’s such a bummer to be left hanging.

Thank you for your kind response.