by Erika Fitzpatrick and Maria Shackles
Maria Shackles and Erika Fitzpatrick are a mentor/mentee pair that have been meeting monthly on Zoom as part of APALA’s Mentoring Program. Maria Shackles is the Neighborhood Services Manager at the Wheelock Branch in Tacoma, WA, and a former Youth Services Librarian. Erika Fitzpatrick is a Youth Services Librarian and Teen Specialist at Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Stafford, VA.
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Librarian – Erika Fitzpatrick
- Knowing the most popular books is not as useful as you might think. It’s helpful to know at least a little about extremely popular titles so that you’ll have an idea of what to recommend when someone asks for similar titles, but don’t count on popular or buzzy titles being your go-to reader’s advisory recommendations. They’re almost never checked in! The books I’ve found most useful are the new books in your section that have good reviews but aren’t all over Bookstagram or BookTok. Books that your library has a lot of copies of (e.g. books that were used for past book clubs) are also great to know!
- Professional librarians often end up being in charge of the building, even if they’re brand new to the job. I went into my first job as a librarian with no previous experience working in a library and ended up learning about the concept of in charge staff during an interview… Having a basic understanding of what that entails (e.g. what types of things you would need to be aware of, what types of situations you might need to handle) would have helped me feel more prepared both for interviews and for the job itself.
- Just because it’s popular with your community or age range doesn’t mean you have to read it. It’s great to be able to share some interests with your community members, but if there’s something you really do not enjoy reading, you don’t have to! I’ve found that as long as you show genuine interest when the kids tell you about the books they like, they really don’t care if you’ve read the books yourself. In fact, that often just makes them more excited to tell you all about them! Now, instead of reading horror myself, I ask our horror fans about their favorite books and keep a list of their recommendations to refer to for reader’s advisory.
- Different libraries can differ widely in how they are structured and managed, and that will have a direct impact on your job. I was really focused on asking the “right” questions during interviews to show that I’d done my homework and make a good impression, but it’s also important to ask questions that will help you decide if the job is a good fit for you. For a first-time librarian, that might mean asking about the onboarding process and ongoing training opportunities, figuring out if you would have good options for mentors in the position, and getting a sense of how much oversight or red tape you might have to deal with when planning programs or making changes in your department.
- You don’t need to use social media to get jobs and other professional opportunities. During library school, I was told that having a professional presence online was critical for networking and finding jobs, but I haven’t found that to be the case. Library Twitter can be a scary place, and if you don’t want to use it, you don’t have to!
- Bonus tip! The job might make you develop grudges against authors who write 700+ page books. The number of times I’ve had to shift books across several shelves just to get a couple of Cassandra Clare books to fit has basically guaranteed I will never voluntarily pick one up and actually read it.
5 Things I Wish I Would’ve Known Before Becoming a Manager – Maria Shackles
- Every person on your team has a valuable role to play. The long-time employee is no less important than the young mover & shaker and a successful team needs both. I admit that in my early days I was more excited by the prospect of managing ambitious staff. Over time I’ve developed a deep respect and appreciation for staff who like what they do, are good at it, and are not interested in climbing the ladder. Perspective is everything.
- Communication is key! If you’ve ever wondered late at night in bed, “Should I have reached out to _____ about _______?” chances are – you should have. Don’t second guess a follow-up email, phone call, or conversation. When I neglect that nagging voice in my head it almost always has negative results. Err on the side of too much communication over not enough.
- Address issues in the moment. See something that’s not right? Don’t wait to discuss it. These are often the hardest conversations to have with staff off the cuff but they are usually the most effective.
- Check your energy. The manager sets the tone for the branch and is responsible for staff morale. Having a bad day? Keep it in check. When I’m having a bad day I force myself to dress up or bring in treats for the staff. Little things like that help brighten my mood and can have an impact on my workday interactions.
- Lead with compassion. As a manager, at times you will be in conflict with staff and patrons. If you always strive to lead with compassion and let that be your guiding star, it can help lighten the emotional load.