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March 20, 2006
A note of clarity on my employment status
On a few occasions during my trip, and in a few emails in recent months from readers, there have been questions regarding the status of my employment, and/or inquiries on whether or not I'd be willing to relocate or switch jobs.
I haven't updated my "About the author" page in way too long (even after Walt Crawford sent me a note to poke me about it; I even gave him permission to mock me openly if I didn't do it in a timely fashion). But I'm fixing that today.
In the meantime, just to clarify, I currently work for two employers: Reading Public Library (henceforth abbreviated RPL) in Reading, MA, where I am a Reference & Techie Librarian (yup, my official title), and PLA, where I co-manage the PLA Blog with Steven M. Cohen. While the PLA position is quite flexible and can pretty much be worked at any domestic location, the RPL position is very fixed.
There are three words I most often (and in *very* good humor) use in response to efforts at recruitment away from my RPL position: cold dead fingers. That's right, kids, I only work there 12 hrs/wk (it's really 10.5 hrs plus one
Saturday a month, but the weekly number works out to 12), but I wouldn't leave my job for the world, I love the job and the staff so much (and it helps that they love me back, too). I often reassure my supervisor (head of information services) as well as other staff at the library that the only way I would leave is for someone to pry the job from my cold dead fingers. And it's totally true.
I've also been asked if I'm holding out for full-time, or would rather have a full-time job elsewhere. My answer is: not really. While I wouldn't cry if RPL gave me more hours (with all the things I do with so few hours, imagine the stuff I could do with more!), as a part-time librarian I can continue to work and travel for the PLA Blog, as well as speaking and training engagements.
Cold. Dead. Fingers. I'm just saying. :)
March 20, 2006 7:03 PM