The Working Life on the Job: Library Worker

I'm happy to report I've worked at my job for close to nine years now. It has aided my recovery greatly. Had I not followed through with my goal to go back to school, I don't think I would've recovered.

What I do on the job: provide career services assistance to customers who need help with their resume or job search or other goals, as well as weed the collection and host the book discussion group, and staff the information desk. Saturday and evening hours are required. I'm going to retire in 20 years even though a deep cut will be made to my pension, because I'm certain that my early fifties will be a good time to re-invent myself. I would like to be a mental health counselor.

The good thing is, I accrue time off so can take off one day a month to see Dr. Altman in the City, no questions asked as to why I need the time. Another benefit is my co-workers are good people, easy to get along, with and the supervisors don't act like they're big shots and we're second bananas. My boss seeks to improve things and allows room for change so that we don't get stuck in a rut.

Experts suggest that your favorite childhood activities indicate your best work. I walked up the mile to the library in the next town, checking out an armful of books each week. Poetry was my thing: I stuck my nose in the 811s stack for hours. In 1979, I was 13 years old and reading Nikki Giovanni. Libraries are a great "third place" because they're open to everyone for recreation and education. If I could live in a library, I'd be a happy camper.

You have options. I urge you to consider this type of work, or anything that has to do with computers, such as programming or web design. Computers are a kind of language, and it's been observed that people with SZ do well with computers. Give any job at least a year before ruling it out, knowing you can always change your focus at a later date. Even if you get a part-time job or volunteer work in a library shelving books, it might just give you joy, too.

I'd love to know what you think. Join me next week for a look at college and other educational opportunities, either as a segue into paid work or simply for self-enrichment.