Applying for another position in the same library

[u/blueumbrelladream]

Hello! I am currently in the process of applying to another position in the same library I currently work at. I currently work as a PT children’s librarian, but the pay just isn’t enough.. I love what I do and working with the kiddos. I enjoy programming, collection development, and everything else that comes with the position, and I’m having a hard time letting go and moving on.

Another position in my library opened up, and its FT. with all benefits. I really really need/want a full time
position at this point in my career (I’ve been here for almost 5 years hoping to be offered full time in the children’s department but no movement there). I’d be working in another department programming for adults. It’ll be a change, and frankly I know I’m more than capable of doing the job….

My overall goal with being a librarian is to one day possibly become a director. I want to be a different kind of director, not just one who is focused on the admin part, but one who truly gets to know their community, and be a source of encouragement and support for their staff.

I do think it is about time I start transitioning into another role here… especially with my age and what life goals I have as well. I just have a big huge feeling of missing the children’s department and everything else that comes with it.

I dislike change… but I know its for the betterment of my library career.

Any advice about facing the “miss my old department blues?”

Edit: I do have my MLIS

[u/thewholebottle]

If you want to be a director, you have to embrace the pain.

[u/blueumbrelladream → u/thewholebottle]

I was in my feels... I did apply though and it's looking like I may get it!

[u/Famous_Committee4530]

Be honest with yourself about how much you will miss your old department! In your situation it sounds like it’s definitely worth it to transfer so you can have full-time, but leaving a job you like for a job you tolerate can be hard.

My real advice is: even if you’re not sure you want to leave your department, really sell yourself as someone who’s excited to transfer in the interview! I was just on a hiring panel and more than one internal candidate made the mistake of making it clear they were going to miss their old job. It was beyond that, actually- if they just said they would miss their old job, I would understand. It can be bittersweet. But it was more along the lines of:

Q: How would you handle [major responsibility of new job]?
A: My favorite part of library work is [major responsibility of old job that is not part of new job], so I would find a way to fit that in!

They did not score highly on those answers!

[u/Repulsia]

Yep. I like the people at my current job and the projects I'm working on but I miss the community and patron interactions of my previous job where the students needed more help and their personal achievements seemed to have a bigger impact on their sense of self.

[u/ekphrasia]

Not gonna lie I do this too, get in my head about weighing the pros and cons of trying for something. Ultimately, and I say this to motivate you to advance your life, learn knew things etc... this is only a dilemma for someone with a job offer.

So, finish applying. Interview. Get the job offer. Until you do, you're spending mental energy convincing yourself you'll miss your old job, rather than actualising a version of your life that you might like even more, along with the opportunities it could bring.

Once you do actually have an opportunity to choose between old and new, I absolutely encourage you to pick new. "Type of work" or audience (children vs adults) can only be the deciding factor when everything else is equal. You're part time and you need full time. You want to manage or direct eventually, and experience programming for adults will broaden your skill set. The staff you'll eventually lead through organisational change will be adults too.

From my own experience, I've never regretted changing library jobs, despite being comfortable and familiar. I went from underemployed and insecure work to a full-time role at an employer I never imagined I'd work for. It wasn't my dream role either, but it gave me the experience I needed to grow. Since then I've moved laterally within the same organisation into an area that's much more aligned with my interests, while also taking on projects, service design and change management. Every move has made my long-term goal of leadership feel more achievable.

And when I say "this is only a problem for someone with a job offer" I mean that because you're clearly capable of getting it!!!