Dream job that turned into a nightmare - Information Assistant New York Public Library Employee Review

If you apply for a position in a branch of the New York Public Library, be aware that you can be transferred at a moment’s notice, and end up in a place where you may be unhappy, and at times scared. I wish I knew that could happen before I applied for a position at a branch in a quiet suburban setting. Within a week or two, I was telling friends that I found the perfect job. I chatted with patrons about good books. I led Crafternoon programs. I created many themed book displays, and posted lots of photos on social media. I was so content, so happy. Several months later, upper management told me I was to be immediately transferred to a different branch in a vastly different urban neighborhood. My position was going to an employee who needed to be transferred :for security reasons, and since I was the most recent hire, I could not protest. My first week in the new branch, I discovered that security guards were posted on every level. Black mold was growing in the supply closet, likely from the leaking roof. A couch infested with bedbugs was removed by being dragged – uncovered – through the main room and out the front door. A colleague discovered fleas. I arrived at work one morning to find a man urinating on the staff entrance door. A binder of banned patrons was several inches thick, and police were sometimes called to escort them out. One day, a patron started violently beating the copy machine and screaming; security led him out. Another time, a patron complained about strong body odor in the computer section; a guard just shrugged and told him there was nothing he could do. Some co-workers told me I would become hardened to the clientele and the conditions. I admire their spirit and strength, but many days I had a stress headache. One day, two guards stood on either side of me at the information desk because of concerns that an angry patron might pose a threat. Ironically, I had just completed a NYPL course on “conflict resolution” where I learned the proper stance to take when threatened, and received a handbook titled “Challenged by Mental Illness at Work.” I searched the web and learned that library staff around the country are increasingly faced with situations that can escalate at a moment’s notice. My stress reached a breaking point, and I gave notice. I’m certain that if I had remained at the branch where I applied and was hired, I would still be there today, happy and content. Although NYPL offers tremendous opportunity and great benefits, be prepared for where you may end up working.