#i work in a library

[magzthemad]

the way my eyes just automatically find it

[howlingdemon13]

I think I’m fucking hilarious. My coworkers hate me 🤪🤪🤪

[skarletterambles]

Call homeless people homeless not unhoused

I apologize if I didn't use the preferred term! I've always heard either "persons experiencing homelessness" or "unhoused persons" from my workplace and the agencies we interact with.

When I got this ask, I did a quick Google search and found links such as this, this, this, this, this and this that indicated "unhoused" is as acceptable as, or even preferable to, "homeless."

That being said, the people in that situation that I have spoken to have all called themselves "homeless."

So yeah, there's conflicting information out there. Rest assured I meant no disrespect in my previous post. Whatever words one chooses, it's a terrible situation that I feel strongly about.

I'm not in a position financially to help the community with donations, and my health would make volunteering challenging. However, I speak up passionately about the issue in my own social circles, and I have done what I can during my 20+ years as a library employee to make everyone feel welcome and valued there.

When patrons complain about people experiencing homelessness who hang out at the library, I am quick to remind them that we are a public building and as long as the rules are followed it doesn't matter what your housing situation is: you are welcome here. That's our thing: free access to information for everyone.

We give bottled water to those who are overheated or having trouble staying awake. We have hand warmers, gloves, scarves, socks, and other items to give out in the winter. We used to have a full-time social worker who helped connect people with helpful programs and resources. (I say "used to" because we can no longer afford that position, which we all feel terrible about.) I'm on a first-name basis with some of our regulars. It breaks my heart to see them leaving the library at closing time, knowing they have nowhere else to go except one shelter with limited space.

I find it abhorrent that billionaires exist while thousands of human beings are without adequate shelter. That, and the dumpster fire that is the American health care system, are the political issues that get me the hottest under the collar. It's a disgrace that the so-called greatest country in the world lets this happen. Shelter, food, clothing, education, and medical care should be universal human rights.

And, as I said in my previous post, there but for the grace of God go I, or a close family member. Empathy costs nothing.

[shipskicksandgiggles]

if I had a nickel for every time there was a wild animal at work I would have two nickels. WHICH ISNT A LOT. BUT TWO???

[castiel-left-his-mark-on-me]

Look at my cute sweater, y'all.

[gay-ghostwriter]

People who put white text on yellow backgrounds need to be shot

[iusedtoweavecrowns]

Sometimes (more and more often) I'm like why??? is my workplace going all let's embrace AI! Chatbots5ever! The future is now and the furture is AI everything! Let's discuss it! Let's have seminars! Let's integrate AI into our workflow! It's as if we're trying real hard to prove we're youthful and hip (rather than mostly 60+ year old ladies) and so so useful in the modern world (please give us funding) that we're running headfirst off a cliff. At least I hope it's a fad that will soon pass I don't want to live in the AI life, it's already a struggle...

[roseblog-rog]

every day i’m surrounded by bussy

[tamsinbeybey-she-no-porcupine]

no one:

Absolutely no one:

My brain whilst I'm at work: Musterhaus-Küchen-Fachgeschäft 🎵🎵🎵

[katieskarlette]

The good news:  I got into the DF beta.

The bad news:  I can’t play because I am teetering on the edge of having a mental breakdown and preparing for a grievance hearing in an attempt to save my 21-year career after my boss decided I had missed too much work due to Covid and other reasons, demoted me, and took away all my hours from the schedule.

So yeah.  I’m not doing so great right now.  Prayers are appreciated.

[roll-top-writing]

A man came into work today and gave us some copies of his self published book and two manuscripts for his second soon-to-be-published book. He was very interesting, we talked to him for over 30 minutes while he talked up his book, gave us the whole spiel. It was pretty good, got me to pick up the book. Unfortunately, I read the back cover, the introduction, and the first few pages, but I still have no idea what this book is about 😭

[jakeperalta]

I'm curious. what job would you do if money was no object (you just automatically had an income you could live comfortably on)? including work like volunteering, studying etc. please share in the tags :)

[july-19th-club]

seriously have been thinking about this all night long. call me autistic but the fact that 90% of workplaces the point is not to get your work done and then be done doing it but to instead perform an elaborate social dance in which you find something to do even when you're done doing everything you need to do in order to show your fellow workers that you, too, are Working . because you are at Work . disgusting why cant we all agree that if there is no work immediately to be done. we just dont do anything

[anotherpapercut]

yesterday I went to a little meeting at my local queer community center and I was admiring their bookshelves and mentioned that I work at the public library and someone said "well I bet they don't have any [LGBTQ+ books] at our library" and I was like um. yes we do. we have tons of them. half of our employees are queer leftists so they said "oh well I bet they don't in [nearby rural county]" and I was like uh once again yes they absolutely do. gay people live and work there as well

so here's a quick reminder that if you don't think your local library has enough queer centered materials you should actually check before assuming, and if you're not satisfied with their collection you should submit a request for more such books. I don't know what the political landscape of libraries looks like outside the us rn, but within the us no matter where you are, I promise you there are employees at your library fighting for inclusion and intellectual freedom and they can't win without vocal public support

[nogenderonlyvoid]

the other day a patron came in asking about shelters to stay in. everywhere in the county is full so all we could do was explain when it's technically legal to sleep in the park across the street-- a total of 8 hours, between 10pm and 6am. better than our sister city who cut it to 4. you can't legally put up a tent there-- people complained it was an eyesore, and anyone who tried was kicked out two weeks ago to make room for the christmas light displays.

the centerpiece is a nativity, by the way. you know. with the baby born outside because no one could or would offer his parents shelter.

[iusedtoweavecrowns]

Yesterday a couple came to the library to show their child who was about 3-4 years old what a library is (it was her first time being in one!), the dad was so excited about everything, it was super sweet, especially sweet though was how he immediately gravitated towards "The Hobbit", talked himself out of borrowing it - it's a bit early for this one, isn't it? :( - and then went like "but we'll get there! one day soon!" and i was like hell yeah you will! Great idea!

Woke up this morning, remembered it, and it brought me joy.