CJ’s Library Misadventure

It all started out with a writing group.

This was my second time to visiting this library writing group, but it was completely different from the first.

Why’s that, CJ?

Two things. First, our darling librarian leader was gone. That’s right. All it takes is one visit by CJ and she decided to jump ship to another library! That or maybe she found a better paying job with more hours. Who’s to say, really? Second, almost everybody at the session was new. Again, only one visit from CJ results in 17 new people out of 20 in a session. What can I say except I have a magnetic personality? (Repulsion is also an important property of magnets, fiends.)

But back to my story.

There was a new temp librarian leader and lots of new people. Our temp lead only set out 4 tables—the type that comfortably sit two if you’re in a square shape—along with the requisite number of chairs. As we had 20 people, those chairs quickly filled up, and CJ spent half her time running and getting more chairs. I felt like the bisexual version of butch lesbian.

Where was I going with this? Oh yes, the writing group. Once we were all variously assembled, we spent some time talking with our temp lead about how we wanted to run the group. Did we want writing prompts? Published authors to come speak? Writing time for our own projects? Our future leader would take all this into account when they arrived and planned for the oncoming sessions. Oh, and they would really like someone who was into writing would apply for the position.

A lightbulb went off in my head.

Could I be the librarian they were looking for?

I’ve always had librarian as a potential career field in the back of my mind. I like books. I like organizing. So I was librarian material, right? Unfortunately, that’s not all librarians do. You also have to interact with the public on a daily basis and be in charge of groups like the writing one I attend. But 20s CJ is quite different from CJ who is in her 30s. I have confidence in my ability to handle the public interaction, especially if it was only a part time position.

So, after the writing group finished, I trundled home and onto the interwebs to do some research. I found the job application the librarian had mentioned, but other than a pretty brief list of duties, there wasn’t much information about the job. Not how many hours or the pay or even what they were looking for as far as work experience. Oh, and the job application was closing. Tomorrow.

That being the case, I decided to visit the library the next day and query the librarian who’d brought up the position. Only one problem. I had an hour drive out to doctor’s appointment.

By the time I’d driven there, had the appointment, driven back, had lunch, then headed to the library my contact was gone. I tried a little light query to some of the other librarians, but they had less information than I did already.

What’s a CJ to do?

What a CJ did was wind her thoughts around her poor brain like a dog would wind a leash around an unsuspecting pair of legs. That’s right. It was slide into panic mode time. I’d just entered my PMS ABOUT ALL THE THINGS time of month so I was already highly emotional. My logic wasn’t doing me any favors either. I couldn’t even hear my intuition because everything else was screaming in my head. This is what led to my mental loop. Do I pivot left and try for a library position knowing it won’t make the money I need to follow my current plan? Is it even a pivot or am I throwing my carefully crafted life goal out the window? Do I stay the course that has been unsuccessful thus far knowing that I only need one ‘yes’ to make it work?

It was a crazy time, fiends, but I am proud of two things. I was aware that this cycle was deeply related to pmsing so I didn’t make any terrible (or permanent) decisions while in the throes of it. I also tried reaching out for help. That later bit proved unsuccessful, but I’m proud that I made the attempt regardless. One tiny step for CJ, one large step for CJ womankind?

Anyway, I decided to drive back home (while still losing my mind) and go ahead in apply for the position. I could always say no if they decided to hire me.

After returning home and successfully sending in my application, I realized there was a second thing I needed to do. Strangely enough libraries are very particular in hiring people who can effectively work the alpha numeric system that organizes their libraries. That’s fair. What’s less fair is that you have to show up in person to the library and take the test on their computer. In the year 2024, that seems a bit silly and definitely inconvenient. What was even more inconvenient is the fact that this test must be submitted no later than the day the job application is closed.  Since the application closed that day, it meant I only had tomorrow to study for and take the test.

Of course, tomorrow was also a Saturday which meant our library was only open for about 4 hours. Yikes! Deadlines are scary! But I’d already put in the effort of crafting a new resume so I might as well keep going at this point. I studied the example work sheet then zoomed off to the library the next day.

Excuse me, I’d like to take the alpha numeric assessment, please.

Uhhhhhh, hang on let me get someone who knows how to do this. I’m just filling in.

You don’t know how to give the alpha numeric test? The thing that all librarians must pass?! You know what? That’s fine. As I am potentially going to be working at this library, showcasing my patience could be an excellent point in my favor in the hiring process. So, I wait and read my book (it is a library after all) until the librarian comes back.

I’m so sorry for your wait! Unfortunately...our laptop that you need to take the test on won’t start. It’s really old. Could you...perhaps go to the main library to take the test?

Excellent! Not only do I get to exhibit patience as a virtue but also my drive to go the (literal) extra mile! I bundle myself back into my car and head to the next library. Once I’ve arrived I head upstairs and over to the information desk.

Excuse me, I’m here to take the alpha numeric assessment. There was a call about me earlier.

Oh...oh dear. Could you wait over there, please?

A familiar feeling of dread steals over me. This is going to take a while, isn’t it?

So I sit until the same librarian comes over with an (old) laptop. She apologizes for the wait and the need for the extra drive while she’s setting up the computer. But, of course, the laptop won’t start. She leaves and returns with a new power cord. Still won’t start. She leaves and returns with a second laptop. It turns on. Hurray! Unfortunately, it’s been 50 years since it was last opened and it needs to update.

That’s fine. No problem. I can once again showcase my patience and wait as I read a book. Except that once it’s finished updating, the laptop won’t connect to the test website. Librarian apologizes again then leaves to call another librarian for help. Eventually, Librarian #2 comes upstairs and starts fiddling around with the laptop, also apologizing sincerely for the trouble.

No problem. It’s fine. Technology is like this.

Technology especially seems like this with me. I wonder if I scare it the way I scared the last leader and other writers of my group away?

Anyway, after over an hour of working on both laptops, the librarians turn to me.

Is it possible for you to come back on Monday? We’ll work on it and call you when we finally get it figured out.

I am perfectly capable of driving back Monday, of course, but the problem is my deadline. I share this with Librarian 1 who looks horrified. This doesn’t solve my problem, but I appreciate her empathy. In light of my deadline, they decide to give me a temporary log-in id to prove to whoever is in charge of this job application that I had, indeed, done my very best to take the test during the time allotted me. (They are very nice librarians.) That done all I can do is bundle myself back into the car and head home.

I return, tease the dog, then head upstairs with my snack. Just as I head to my room, I get a call. The number seems familiar so for once I pick up the unknown number.

Yes?

This is X Library. We’ve managed to fix the test after you left! Are you able to make it back before we close down at 5:00?

...I’ll be right there.

CJ once again bundles herself into the car and drives back to the library. I race up the stairs, am directed around another irritated customer, and into a side room to start my test. Easy peasy right? Laptop is finally working. I’ve got an hour to finish this test, no problem...

All I can say is bless the heart of whoever created this assessment site. The questions themselves were fine, but the instructions were confusing. The sample page even more so. When I tried to actually organize the book titles as requested, the website refused to cooperate. I’d click on a tile and drag only for the computer to return it to its original position or another one nearby. I can’t count the minutes and the brain cells I lost trying to drag things around the page until the tiles finally dropped into the space I wanted them.

Regardless, I stuck with it, organized my tiles, and managed to check and complete it all before the time was up. I also got a perfect score! (Take that poorly made digital assessment!) I effusively thanked the librarians, and they effusively apologized for the tech issues. Then for the final time, I bundled myself into my car and drove home, ending my library misadventure.

Things I’ve learned from misadventuring:

Persistence doesn’t always pay off, but it does give you more experience.

Librarians are very nice creatures.

Most importantly, technology is a bastard.