Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Moving On And Getting Drunk With Power

After weeks of waiting, I finally get to write the blog post I've been dying to write.  After ten years with my current employer in various roles (branch manager, materials evaluator, now public services-slash-materials evaluator), I have accepted a new position with a new employer.

Now my policy on the blog is never to name my employer "outright."  I don't hide it, but I also don't shout it from the rooftops.  So that will continue with this "new job."  What I can tell you is that I'll be staying in the same geographic area, working for a large library system, and I will be the new head of their collection development department.  What does this mean?  Right now I put together order lists of adult fiction for my current employer and select materials specifically for the library branch I work at.  Starting on May 19, I will give that up - with some sadness because holy cow I love me adult fiction.  What I will be doing instead is overseeing the entire collection management department for a very large library system.  No more buying for Wendy.  Instead Wendy will be overseeing the whole shebang.
 
Wendy is now officially drunk with power.

This has been a bit of a roller coaster since February.  I had applied for the job late last year and when I didn't hear anything back I figured, "Oh well, they're not interested."  Then around President's Day here in the States I got a call for a screening interview.  I went to said interview and no lie, left there feeling like I bombed it.  I didn't have a good feeling coming out of that interview, at all.  So I was pretty shocked when just a few days later I got a call about a second interview.

By this point My Man and I had to have a "come to Jesus" moment.  When I started working as a librarian 15 years ago (where has the time gone?), I was pretty adamant about not getting into administration.  Honestly, I thought I'd be pretty terrible at it and it's also not why I got into the profession in the first place.  Well now here I was interviewing for a job that would very much be "administration."  My Man wanted to make sure I was doing this for the "right reasons."  Jumping the gun maybe since I hadn't had the second interview yet?  Probably.  But he wanted me prepared and he wanted me to really think about it.  Which I did, after talking around in circles for a while because, this is me we're talking about.  Talking around in circles is just what I do.

As sure as I was that I bombed that first interview, I left the second interview feeling pretty fan-freaking-tastic.  I've never nailed an interview more in my life.  I went straight into work and met privately with my boss.  At that point I hadn't told him about the first interview because why upset the apple cart if it turns out to be nothing?  Well, probably a good thing I met with him right away because as we were wrapping up he got a phone call that was a reference check.

Bingo-bango, everything was set in motion.  It just turned out to be slow-moving and going uphill.  Hoops.  Lots of hoops.  I've been dying to spill this news for weeks now, but alas, offer not official until it's in writing and the salary package took some time.  

I'm super excited, mostly because it means getting to work full-time, all-the-time in collection management again.  It also means I'll be in charge of overseeing what I'm most passionate about in this profession for a very large library system.  At the end of the day, collection is everything.  It's the backbone of everything libraries do.  I can't wait to jump into the thick of it again.

37 comments:

w said...

Congratulations Wendy!

Jill Sorenson said...

Congrats!!!

Beth Yarnall said...

Congratualtions!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations!!!

lynneconnolly said...

Couldn't be happier for you!

Unknown said...

Yay!! Great news. Congrats.

Keira Soleore said...

What fabulous news! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!! What a fabulous opportunity - that's my dream job :-)

Jennifer said...

Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck in your new position...sounds fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Lucky library system to get you for the job. Well deserved; good for you!

Phyl said...

Congrats, Wendy! This sounds very exciting and I'm very happy for you. Does this mean no more weekend hours?

Darlene Marshall said...

Congrats, Wendy! It sounds like a great move for you.

Wendy said...

Phyl: Brace yourself. 10 hour work days (which will take some getting used to) but that means.......

Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. No weekends. I work this Sunday and hopefully it will be my last Sunday shift for a VERY LONG TIME! Huzzah!

Barb in Maryland said...

Yay, Wendy!! You are, in truth, a Super Librarian!!! I am certain that you will rock the job and that this library system will have the Most Awesome collection evah--thanks to you.

Phyl said...

That is AWESOME! Enjoy. As I can attest, there is something to be said for those behind-the-scenes library jobs :)

willaful said...

I'm so happy for you!

azteclady said...

They are incredibly lucky to have you--and so are all the patrons in that library system. Huge congrats, Wendy!

shayera said...

I an unbelievably delighted for you! You are going to kick butt.

Marguerite Kaye said...

Brilliant news, huge congratulations, you are now officially a Big Cheese.

Susan at West of Mars said...

Mazel Tov, Wendy!!! At some point, I hope to come to you to talk about the needs of public libraries... my dream is still to make enough money to be able to open a foundation that will help pad your budgets.

nath said...

Congratulations Wendy! This is wonderful news! It's nice to see that you are so happy and excited for this job! :)

People, be aware, there's a new sheriff in town! LOL.

Cynthia Sax said...

Yay, Wendy!!!
A well deserved congrats.

PS... is being drunk with power similar to being high on Nutella?

little alys said...

Horray to the Super Librarian! congrats!!!!

Hilcia said...

Fantastic! Congratulations Wendy. I hope it is everything you want and more!

LynnD said...

Congratulations Wendy! Best of luck.

JamiSings said...

Congrats Wendy! But I'm going to miss having you part of our system. But I'm glad you're happy and that's the most important thing!

Lynn Spencer said...

Congratulations, Wendy! That sounds wonderful.

Helena said...

Oh, well done!! Exercise your power wisely... I'm sure you know what I mean!

Helena said...

I think that's exactly what it's like.

Anna Richland said...

Congrats! And 4 X 10s is a GREAT schedule! (It's not like a lot of people aren't already working off the clock to equal ten hours a day, so having that time on the clock and recognized, then getting a day off is very refreshing.)

Wendy said...

Nath: LOL "new sheriff in town" indeed.

Wendy said...

Cynthia: Looking at sugar content - probably shockingly similiar :)

Wendy said...

Jami: I'm going to miss you guys too!

Wendy said...

Anna: I figure the new schedule is going to take some getting used to - but I'm going to love having my weekends back.

A Library Girl said...

Congratulations! I hope the new job works out great. :)

Rosario said...

Congratulations, fantastic news!

mary sullivan said...

Congratulations, Wendy! What wonderful news! I'm very happy for you.