On the Job: Flexibility

The long weekend threw my mental schedule off. I thought today was Monday. Whoops. My error in posting this week's On the Job on time, actually gave me this week's subject: Flexibility.

Anyone who has ever worked at all knows that work days do not always run as planned. A great asset for those working in libraries is having the ability to adapt and be flexible. Schedules tend to be thrown out the window on a regular basis when you work with the public, varying vendors, and in a diverse organization whose needs and expectations are always changing. You can't survive in libraries if you refuse to be flexible - things are too fluid in this profession whether it be a building maintenance issues, changing patron needs, or computer issues.

I would argue that the constant changing natures of librarianship is what makes this career so much fun. You never quite know what is going to happen on any given day. Most library positions have this fun line in their job description - "and other duties as necessary." Librarians are in a service oriented profession. That means we work at the whim and will of our patron's needs. There have been days when nothing on my To Do list is completed because other, more pressing issues, arise.

Addtionally, there are some days you just don't want to do what's on your To Do list... and that's okay too! Many library positions can cause mental or physical fatigue. You have to be flexible to meet your own needs as well. I have put off shifting projects for a few days because the thought of moving those heavy journal volumes made my shoulders cry. As long as you're not neglecting deadline oriented projects, it's okay to move your schedule around to fit the needs of your mind and body. If you force yourself to work on a project you don't want to do, you'll more likely end up making mistakes and/or cause your burnout.

One has to be limber in this profession, so remember to stretch beforehand lest you pull a hamstring.

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