Pros
Paycheck, gain lots of customer service experience. The non-upper management staff are all very kind and sweet. The librarians are kind and worry about the Circulation department a lot. Customers are generally quite nice and understanding.
Cons
No upwards mobility. Training goes to those who management likes. Training does not grant a pay-raise even when trained to perform roles far outside your initial job description. Management constantly seeks efficieny improvements, but suggestions during meetings specifically labeled as feedback meetings will get you written up. Middle management is treated the same as standard staff. If you ask for time off, even months in advance, you have to calculate other staff member's shifts (again, months in advance) to swap shifts with them. Management hates if you have to miss hours and will purposefully schedule you around holidays so that you don't get days off. Management will schedule you for holidays and around holidays. Planning on taking a trip to see relatives for Thanksgiving? You're scheduled the day before and the day after. Even if the library is closed. Funny how they're always able to plan ahead when it comes to holidays, but they can't help you when it comes to planning time off months in advance. As a sign of how toxic management is: One specifically turned their desk around 90 degrees to face the circulation department. Can't be having workers go unobserved! Sitting at the break table will have management questioning you on whether you're actually on break. There is serious micro-managing on everything from how you answer the telephone to how you greet non-staff. You'd honestly probably get better benefits and treatment from management at a traditional retail job.