Pros
People from all walks of life and of all ages use the library. You never know what they will ask next. Most patrons are respectful and happy to have access to free books and other media. The County offers a very generous amount of vacation, holiday, personal and sick time. Very good employee assistance program.
Cons
Frontline employees take too much abuse from patrons. We've all be yelled at, subjected to strings of obscenities, and have unintentionally viewed porn while staffing or walking by the public computer lab. Been peered at through the stacks, called "Sweetie Pie" and have been hit on and given inappropriate notes. There is zero chance of working your way up the ranks. You may have to report to work at 8:30 a.m. even though your last shift just ended at 8:30 p.m. the night before. Internet browsers are old so some websites do not work properly. Workers who are bullied by coworkers have no recourse and have been told to resolve issues on their own. The non-English speaking community is underserved. Funding is always an issue, resulting in lay-offs or reduction of hours. There is a high turnover rate. Repetitive motion injuries. Bedbugs. Not an ergonomic workplace- one size fits all chairs/desks. Fistfights are not uncommon amongst patrons. Patrons soil their pants and emit overwhelming odors. Holiday parties are not permitted unless it is one event open to hundreds of county employees. Handicap parking is too far away. Must be able to lift 50 pounds but the percentage of time lifting/bending/pushing/pulling is not revealed in job postings. Must have own vehicle so you cannot depend entirely on public transportation to get to work. Some departments have no opportunity for overtime. Employees who work with the public change location every hour.