So, for those of you who haven't gotten the memo - it pretty much sucks to be a librarian right now. Actually, come to think of it, I'm trying to think of a time when it was "good" to be a librarian. Hmmmm. The late 1990s maybe? I mean other than listening to morons tell me that the Internet was going to make the profession obsolete, the late 1990s were pretty frickin' sweet. Plus, I was skinnier back then. And younger. And just all around cuter. I know, all of this is hard to imagine. Wendy used to be cuter? How is that possible?
My Man says I'm too "raw" right now and probably shouldn't do anything rash. He's probably right. Don't tell him I said this, but he's right a lot. Damn his black heart. But I think I need to do it, because I'm just entirely too scatterbrained at the moment.
The long and the short of all this is that Real Life has reared her ugly head. My job is....in flux. What does that mean? Well, good question. What I do know are words like "reorganization" are being tossed around. The problem is that nobody really knows anything at the moment. It's all very much still up in the air. Word is I'm still going to have a job, but where that job will be and what I'll be doing isn't clear at the moment.
So yeah. Wendy is a little distracted right now.
To that end, the blog is taking a hiatus. I just need to take some time and decompress. To see where the cards end up falling and make the necessary adjustments.
However, it won't be a total dead zone here. I've promised reviews to people. Although at the rate I'm reading who the hell knows what's going to get done when. But, I've made commitments and I'm going to do my best to honor them, because that's how I roll. Plus, Sybil is going to expect me to read and review some Harlequins....eventually. Heroes & Heartbreakers, Criminal Element and Readers Gab are going to expect blog posts from me. I told all these people "yes" - and I'm going to try my best to stick with that. Which means this blog is going to become a little less active. I'll pop in. I'll still do occasional posts. But right now my usual pace of 3-4 per week probably isn't going to happen. At least not until things in Real Life settle down a wee bit.
ETA: 4/28/11
43 comments:
That sucks, but can certainly understand your desire to do One Less Thing at this time.
Oh Wendy, I'm so sorry. I hope that things resolve themselves in a positive way for you, because you deserve it. I'll think good thoughts for you.
Wendy, I love your tags for this post.
Every time RL gets to be TOO much, I always say I'm going to take a hiatus from the blog. It lasts all of a few days, usually, because it's a positive habit that can be a blessing in a whole crapload of chaos. When things get hinky, the romance community is pretty damn great.
I hope that happens for you because it'll be pretty frickin' lonely around here without you!
It's okay to take a break. The world will not end, and you will be better for taking time off when you need it.
I hope this ultimately, somehow, turns out to be positive.
Dude! Major suckage! If you need a drinking buddy...
big hugs, that's all. just freaking big hugs. And a few appletinis.
I feel the need to punch someone on your behalf. I'm sending big hugs, drinks, and smart alecky remarks to the powers that be your way.
Hang in there!
Oh, Wendy. I'm so sorry, and outraged on your behalf. And--of course!--no pressure on H&H stuff, ffs!
Have a drink for me. I'll buy you one in person at RWA, 'kay?
lovesese you doll
I know you are awesome, they know you are awesome and I am sure your work does to (just maybe forgot for a bit and money problems make people do stupid shit).
Things will work out like they are supposed to or you will go postal. Either way win :D but really you are far too cute for jail. So keep that as a last option
Just sending you some more hugs. -
Aw, big hugs, me old mate. It's so not fair what's happening, and it sucks when you have a job you enjoy and that you excel at ripped away from you.
In my long and not very illustrious non writing career, things similar to this happened to me at least a couple of times. I'd be in a job I liked, and happily chugging along, then, out of the blue, some bastard PTB would take it into their head to a] change the job completely, b] delete the job entirely, or c] decide to keep job similar, but at least double the workload. It even happened to me in library work... started off loving the job, working with books and helping readers, then suddenly it's all stupid non book related admin crap!
Any road up, sorry to rant on, but just wanted you to know I understand the gruesomeness you're going through, and offer moral, or immoral support.
Hang in there, super pal!
I feel for you. I'm still unsettled myself with the whole job market in my industry that I work in and it can be scary.
Wishing you the best.
I'll miss you, and worry about you, and want things to get a LOT better really soon...but I won't mind about the blog. You're more important as a happy person than as a blogger (although it's closer than you think -- that's how awesome this blog is).
Being in limbo can be worse than knowing the outcome. Doing everything right, being really good at your job and still eventually losing that job just plain sucks!
Whatever the outcome, know you are greatly appreciated by many.
And drunken blogging could be fun. :)
Wow, Wendy, I'm really sorry to hear this. A year of highs and lows, huh?
BTW, I live in a small town, so can you please explain what "collection management" is? It sounds like you're the person in charge of people who arrest folks who have overdue books;)
Ditto what everyone else has said. We wish you only the very best. You should do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself right now. Selfishly, I hope you'll feel like coming back here soon.
Oh, crap! I'm so sorry to hear this. Just keep saying to yourself, "It's not personal, it's not about me..." Maybe next Tuesday when we come to HQ, all of Bib Services could join us for a rip roaring lunch! Feel free to email & dump your rants on me. Really.
From one librarian to another, this sucks. Plain old sucks.
I hope that the worst doesn't happen and I wish you all good things. Hopefully you'll find something that is equally (or more) awesome than your awesomesauce job now. Best of luck!
I had wondered when I read your Tweet what had come of the promised changes but didn't want to ask you and add to any paranoia you might be having. Given the state of librarianship right now I am, unfortunately, not too surprised. I've always envied you your job in collection management. Sounded like a ton of fun to buy romance, mysteries, etc.
I could give you some platitudes like you are luck to have any kind of job but that won't make you feel any better. Its like telling someone who loses a finger that they are lucky it wasn't their whole hand. Sigh! Just get through this, hold your temper and avoid bursting into tears in the middle of the library. If you can, take some time off and get out into nature, take a couple of long hikes, take some pictures of flora and fauna and don't listen to the news. Take care of yourself.
*hugs*
You will always be my favorite Librarian.
*shakes fist at RL*
Lots of good thoughts, Wendy. This too shall pass. Hope you're back with us soon.
Karina
Sad. So sad. But understandable. I fully comprehend the need to decompress and simply life now and then.
Take the time you need but don't think for one stinking minute that we're letting you go permanently. Oh no. You will not get off that easily. And I will still haunt you in person, you lucky girl. :)
{{big hug}}
Good luck, Wendy - take care of yourself! I'll be crossing my fingers and toes that everything works out for you.
My Mom is a librarian and I have heard some stories about how things have changed over the years. I am also a loyal user of our local library (Even though we have our own bookstore) because libraries have always been a happy place for me! Take that break! You deserve it!
I'm really sorry that this is happening to you. I know it's so unsettling not even knowing where you'll end up.
I'll be thinking of you.
Hi everybody. First off, I've gone in and edited this post. It seemed like the thing to do - so I did it.
Also, re: my blogging hiatus, it's going to be a hiatus by my standards. Which means, most likely not a total vanishing act - more like a post a week? Also, really short posts? We'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I want thank everybody for all their nice comments and support. It's just been....exhausting around here. I think the "not knowing" what's going to happen (or when or where!) is what's the worst. It's going to shake out eventually, but in the meantime it's just a lot of stuff to process.
Goddess: Sorry! Lost your question in the shuffle of my brain melting out of my ears.
"Collection Management" is essentially "managing" a library's collection. So the purchasing, maintaining and evaluating of materials that will be housed in the library. In my case, I'm responsible for all of adult fiction. So I select titles across all genres, keep the libraries informed on these materials, work with them in regards to weeding/maintaining their individual collections etc.
That's the quick and dirty version at any rate. Hopefully that makes some sense.
Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. Maybe it's time we get together again and party it up. Margarita lunch instead of a simple non-drinking thing. We're sure to find something really juicy to bitch about :)
Wendy, I feel for you. I was in a similar position last year, when we heard our department would have to make 35% budget cuts but for months no one had any idea how that would work. Fortunately, the powers that be have turned out to be quite sensible about it and made choices that seem to me the right ones. Wishing the same is the case for whoever's making the decisions in your case!
Rosario
Take care, Wendy. Post when you can and when you want to-don't let the blog become a chore (sometimes life itself can be enough of that!) Hope things settle themselves in your favour very soon. *hugs*
Oh, wow, Wendy, that sounds like a great job for someone who loves to read. I'm so sorry about the change.
Thanks for the explanation.
My OH has just been through this, he got one of the jobs this time, but it's a rolling programme so the whole shebang will start again next year. The same no-one knowing what is happening other than they may not have a job very soon, a text book perfect lesson in how to de-motivate your staff. You have my deepest sympathy, I look forward to your return when things have calmed down.
Hey Wendy, I know the feeling. I was RIF'd from a teaching job decades ago, and it's no fun trying to maintain while knowing that your axis is tilting.
Take your own sweet time with the blog. I'll still be checking in to see what short, lucid insights you might drop on us.
I'm so sorry and I hope things work out well for you. As a perpetually underemployed (but at least employed) librarian I can understand how you feel.
Hey Wendy! Sorry to hear :( Like Rosie said, major suckage! I hope that you get some answers soon!!
I understand completely. In the fall of 2008, my job as development director at our symphony was eliminated -- budget reasons though they never told me directly. I was on unemployment for a year and two weeks, not that I was counting. It's frustrating and stressful. Ironically, the job I got was working at Unemployment Insurance -- a temp position. And now there is a strong possibility mine will end in the near future. And jobs are scarce. Give yourself time -- take tremendous care of yourself and begin formulating plans for the possibility. I was a mess the first time. This time if it happens before I find something else, I'm better prepared. Good luck.
Wishing you the best of luck, Wendy. These days are scary ones fo sho, but I don't see how they can do without Super Librarian at your place of work. I mean, you have the cape and all!
Crossed fingers, sweetie!
Wendy, that just bites :-(. I can understand not wanting to blog when RL is a mess. You just don't have the energy. But selfishly, cause I'm going to miss you, things turn around at work so we get you back again.
I 'm sorry to hear your news. Love your posts and will miss them, but totally understand as a fellow human and librarian.
I've been in that position too many times to count and it never gets easier. Wishing the best and hope everything works out for you and the job. I know how you love that position!!!
I'm sorry, I've been there myself and you're right, the uncertainty is the worst part. I hope it works out for you and I'll keep my fingers crossed!
I'm so sorry Wendy and yes, things have been sucking for libraries for as long as I can remember. I won't even go into my own feelings on how little respect these incredible institutions & their amazing staffs receive. I will keep my finger crossed that everything turns out all right for you. *hugs*
I'm really sorry to hear that Wendy! I hope that the reorganization doesn't happen. Wishing the best for you!
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