Big Plans, Fewer Results, No Regrets

When I first learned that I was not hired by the "new entity" MLS and realized I would have the summer off, I began to make plans with what to do with all my free time. Thoroughly clean the house was one. Keep up-to-date with what's happening in the cataloging world. Create this blog and post every day. Go through all of the material that had been given to me by a career counselor and pursue a new career. Exercise every day.

Well, of course, I haven't quite met all of those goals, but I've done okay by my estimation which is the one that counts.

The house is getting cleaned - and thoroughly - although at a slower pace than I had originally thought. Slowly enough that the rooms I first scoured within an inch of their lives are now ready for a re-do and I still have a couple of rooms to go. I live in a very large house with lots of nooks and crannies as well as lots of windows and sliding glass doors. It is not easy to clean.

I subscribed to AUTOCAT and OLAC-L and read most of the emails, but not in detail and save very few. I had signed up for a free trial of the RDA site, but never looked at it before it expired on August 31. My cataloging feels rusty, but I have been able to practice a little through my substitute librarian job at Springfield City Library.

I've posted to this blog once or twice every week or so and always when I have some burning issue that needs to be expressed. I think of things to post more often, but what's in my head doesn't always make it to my fingertips. I was also going to investigate more sophisticated ways of using blogs. Maybe I'll do that soon.

The career search materials are sitting on my coffee table within easy reach. I'm feeling more inclined towards picking them up and seriously beginning a job search. That will happen soon.

The one goal that I've fulfilled is to exercise (almost) every day. For many years I've used a series of Yoga audio tapes. One set I bought about 25 years ago. I used them sporadically for the first 15 years (I was teaching aerobics at the Greenfield YMCA most of that time) and more regularly for the last 12. About 12 years ago, I purchased the tapes that accompany Jon Kabat-Zinn's book Full Catastrophe Living and have alternated among all of these while also going to Curves 2-3 days/week for the last 3 1/2 years.

I discontinued my Curves membership in June figuring I could spend that money on other things. I also borrowed some DVDs on Pilates and Yoga from my local public libraries (I use 2 that are the same distance from my house) for variety. One, Katrina Fitness presents Ease Into Pilates, I purchased.

So now when I wake up each morning, depending on my energy level and the amount of time I have, I can do one of two easy 45-minute (no tree postures) Yoga routines; one of two harder 45-minute (tree and other balancing postures) routines; one 20-minute Yoga routine; one 30-minute Pilates routine (a little more rugged than the harder Yoga); or an aerobic walk to the end of my road (1 mile) and back (1 mile, inclined up). I generally take Sunday off unless I missed a day during the week.

The best thing about exercising at home is that I don't have to make myself presentable to the outside world, not even when I walk.

What a great way to start every day.

A Disappointment

Two weeks ago I interviewed for a job in which I was really interested. Today I learned I didn't get hired. The position went to an in-house candidate. I feel better about that than I would if someone outside of the organization got "my" job; an insider always has a head start.

For one job many years ago, I was the in-house person who was hired. It was my first professional library position and it started me on a great career. I 'm glad someone else has now had that opportunity, although I still wish they had hired me.

My job search actually started back in October of 2009 when I learned that CMRLS would undergo a major change as of July 1, 2010. We knew than that many people among the 6 Regional Library Systems would not be continuing with what we began to call the "new entity". In November, I had my first interview for a pretty interesting library position in Connecticut. I didn't get it, but I figured I still had lots of time.

It was the end of May that I was told I was not chosen to be one of the Advisors for MLS. By that time I had applied for another interesting library job nearby, for which I was not interviewed. Today's disappointment was not the first.

I've been checking the MBLC job listings and reading the Help Wanted Ads in the local paper. There are several open positions for Reference/Instructional librarian, and the Instruction part sounds good, but I'm a cataloger and don't know if I could (or want to) make the transition to Reference Librarian.

Anyway, NO ANTs. While I may be disappointed in the outcome of this job search, it could very well mean that there is something bigger and better waiting for me.

I am grateful that
1. I still have money in my savings account to last me for a while
2. My partner is making a lot of money right now and can support us for a while
3. I can collect unemployment benefits
4. I have some part-time work for a few additional dollars
5. I'm an intelligent, energetic, and resourseful person and will soon fine gainful employment.

Public v. Private Sector

I was offered a job today. It sounds like an interesting job and it's for a great company, but doesn't pay very well - at least for my needs right now. So I turned it down.

If a private company has an opening, the person in charge can call someone he/she knows will do a good job and ask "Would you like this job?" During my career, I've been hired that way twice. These were not jobs that were advertised, but I was found via word-of-mouth. There was sort of a job interview beforehand, although it was really more of a conversation to see if we were both interested in each other.

In many ways, hiring in the private sector is much easier than the public sector - which is where I've worked for most of my life. There are other differences between the two. There is an energy level in a private company that just doesn't exist in a state or municipally funded organization. Perhaps it's that awareness of the bottom line and the fact that if a private company doesn't earn more than it spends, it ceases to exist.

However, there is a level of stress involved and those billable hours mean your job is pretty much on the line all the time.

As I search for a job, I'm wondering if I would prefer to work for a private or public organization. Ultimately, I may not have a choice. I may have to accept whatever is offered. But until then, I'm pondering.

Life Goes On

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity.

I was hired as the on-call cataloger at Sprinfield City Library. Working for a municipality (this is my first experience) requires a LOT of paperwork. First, I was sent several forms to fill out and mail back. This was all the stuff for withholding federal and state taxes and the city retirement fund. Then I had to go to Springfield and meet with the city HR person, bring my passport to make sure I'm legal to work in the U.S. and fill out more forms.

Then I was sent to Mercy Hospital for a quick physical and drug test, both of which I passed.

Last week, I attended an orientation with the Diversity Officer for all new people hired by the city (there was one other person) where we learned about ethical conduct (good) and sexual harrassment (how to avoid it, not how to do it). Then I went to the Library for "training".

As an on-call person, I can only work when the regular cataloger is out, but I do get up to 8 hours of training. Since I'm not familiar with the specific work flow at SCL, I needed to learn that and also get up to speed with my original cataloging as I haven't done any at all in a while and very little for the last few years. This will also give me some current field experience which will definitely help when I teach cataloging.

This week, I'll get more training and I actually get to work for one full day. The change in my routine (more on that later) is good and I get to earn a few extra dollars on top of my unemployment benefit.

I also had a job interview on Friday. I don't want to go into details about what or where until I know more, but it's not a library position.

Today, I need to do some preparation for cataloging workshops that I have scheduled in a few weeks both in Massachusetts and Connecticut. October seems far away, but I know better.

There is one kind of discouraging thing about all of this thorough housecleaning that I've been doing the last couple of months. I'm about three-quarters of the way through the house and the first rooms I did need cleaning again. At least it won't take so long to do them this time since I probably won't unscrew the light bulbs or switch plates.