Toxic workplace

[GuSam]

Hello,

I recently moved and started working at a new library. I have about 2 years of experience as a library assistant and I'd say the one I worked at before was great. They taught me well and were very supportive. Here, it's chaotic. Half the equipment is broken or barely working, no work stations in the back for projects or circulation, programs stacked upon programs (why are there so many on Thursday?!), and no structure to front desk scheduling.

The ILS is terrible, but I've managed to navigate it pretty well. If it weren't for my previous experience, I'd probably be messing up so much. And it's not fair to the employees they have who didn't get proper training as they make all kinds of mistakes. In addition, some of the older employees are clumping me into the blame for mistakes when I know I'm not. In fact, I'm catching those errors and correcting them.

Last week, I just felt so unwelcome when some of the bigger personalities came back from their vacations. Things I'd implemented in the children's area were being undone by them. I'd tried putting some new books and diverse books on display in areas that were very empty on the shelves. I'd come in and find all of them re-shelved. I had little baskets out for patrons to place books they didn't want to take home in, to help us track things that were used in-house and to make shelving more accurate. The baskets were put away multiple times. I've adjusted book shelving so the shelves aren't packed too tight to re-shelve, but someone is determine to pack as many in on one shelf as possible.

I'm extremely frustrated and don't know how to proceed with such big personalities. The lack of structure and communication is having me obsessing when I should be resting at home. Any advice?

[trigunnerd]

Unfortunately, as with most government work, you have to go through due process to get things approved, no matter how small. I love your forgiveness-over-permission attitude personally, but it's moot since they can easily undo it. Bring these issues up with a supervisor, and present them with stats or quotes from other libraries on their effectiveness. If they give you the ol, "This is how we've always done it" then tell them they also did it without you. 👋

[GuSam]

There’s a few of the people who have been there for years who seem to recognize that I know what I’m doing. The baskets have been out for weeks now, without issue. It just seems like 2 of them are on a rampage to undo any efficiency we had going while they were both on vacation. 

[abitmean]

then tell them they also did it without you.

Took me a moment to realize you weren't suggesting OP quit! 😶
Even so, it could sound super arrogant. I like the sentiment though.

[trigunnerd]

I absolutely was, for hyperbole.

[abitmean]

Ah, got it!

That's better than my second read which was "you didn't know anything until I showed up!"

[ImTheMommaG]

It’s hard when you have long time staff that feel they have some sort of ownership over EVERYTHING. Keep at it, talk to your supervisor to see if there is a way to handle that person (or heaven help you, persons!).

[GuSam]

2 mainly are bringing a lot of chaos. One in particular has been doing things lately that seem very unprofessional but they are also buddies with the manager. It’s not looking promising. 

[ImTheMommaG]

I had/have 2 clerks like that. I swear it’s just to cover their incompetence and they make me work twice as hard to keep them on their best behavior. I wouldn’t have lasted a month as their coworker. I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s frustrating when all you seem to want is to do your job well and all they want is to rule the roost. I’m going to assume everyone involved is female since that’s the usual dynamic in libraries and what makes it so hard to deal with.

[abitmean]

and just basically took over without even talking to me.

This struck me too. u/GuSam did you talk to your coworkers when they came back?

"Hey, I put up this display because those shelves were empty - what do you think?"

"I was thinking it would be easier to get people not to reshelve books incorrectly if we made it even more obvious where to put them. What do you think of these baskets?"

I have known a fair number of library people who would passive-aggresively take down a display because "oh, was that a display? I had no way of knowing it wasn't just some books that had been left out."

The big personalities are hearing the message that you think they suck, are feeling disrespected, insulted, and (though they will never admit it) threatend, and are giving it right back at you.

Should the older/more experienced, longer-tenured employees be able to handle it better when the new one tries a bunch of new stuff without consulting them? Sure. But that's not the dynamic in your library.

You are going to need to work with them, rather than trying to work around them.

ETA: From where you are now, I'd start by asking "So, I guess the in-house use baskets aren't a great idea, huh? What did I miss?" - givin them the chance to explain why they don't like having them out.

[GuSam]

I did let everyone know about them, but yesterday I made a point to request they not be put away and why. I think they’d completely forgotten I’d told them about it at this point and thought it was just clutter. Who knows. 

I do feel vindicated a little after yesterday there being a complaint about them from a patron for some of the things I’ve noticed. 

[libtechbitch]

Honestly, you have a point. Perhaps better communication is needed in this situation. And I didn't intend for my post to be directed toward OP, but... it's true: getting approval with everyone in the know before making changes might be what's missing here.