What we think of each other's jobs - Part two of Developing Empathy

We did a group activity at the November meeting of the North Philadelphia Neighborhood Libraries. The group was divided  by their job classes.  Municipal Guards. Library Assistant 1's.  Digital Resource Specialists with Library Assistant 2s/3s.  Librarians and Librarian Supervisors were also together.  Each group was charged with developing a list of the five best and worst parts of each of the other groups' jobs based on their own perceptions. Then, each group was tasked with determining the best/worst parts of their own jobs.  Here are the results of that exercise.

Library Assistant 1's

The Municipal Guards thought:

Best /Easiest

1. They get rotating desk shift
2. Shop online
3. A lot of free time
4. First impression patrons get of the library's tone
5. If they like you they "got ya" back

Worse /Hardest

1. If they don't like you, they DON'T have your back
2. Too much idle time
3. They like to be security
4. They want things to go their way all the time
5. They have to listen to two supervisors

The Library Assistant 2's, 3's and Digital Resource Specialists thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Lack of responsibility
2. Repetition of work
3. Advancement Opportunities
4. Processing Materials
5. Overtime available

Worse / Hardest

1. Various interpretations of Rules / Policies
2. Dealing with irate patrons
3. Coworker relationships
4. Poor leadership
5. No proper training - consistency

The Librarians thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Helpful options
2. First face - greeter - get to know names
3. Finger on the pulse (really know what is going on)
4. Shelving - keeping in order - meditative
5. Not in charge - pass them on

Worse / Hardest

1. Saying, "You owe money"
2. First problem receiver
3. REALLY know what's going on
4. Chaos
5. Bathroom Monitor

The real story according to the LA 1's.

Best / Easiest

1. Don't have to order supplies
2. Being on the front line
3. :)

Worse / Hardest

1. Making cards continuously for the same people
2. Being on the front line
3. Can't satisfy everyone
4. Pay

Library Assistant 2's, 3's & Digital Resource Specialists (DRS)

The Library Assistant 1's thought:

Best / Easiest

1. They provide training
2. Resourceful
3. Having a great staff to work with

Worse / Hardest

1. Have to keep track of paperwork
2. Dealing with patrons with no computer experience
3. Ordering Supplies
4. Being innovative when you have nothing to work with

The Municipal Guards thought:

Best / Easiest

1. They really know their job
2. They love their job
3. They really step up when the time comes
4. They get to schedule computer programming & the lab
5. They order our supplies

Worse / Hardest

1. They think they run the library
2. Responsible for the money
3. They can do yearly reviews
4. They try to boss you around
5. They have to do the scheduling for all the LA's

The Librarians thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Team Leader - Learn Leadership Skills
2. Training new staff 
3. Trusted
4. More variety
5. Digital Resource Specialists can really specialize
6. They see results / rewarding

Worse / Hardest

1. Caught in the middle (mediator)
2. Same as LA1
3. Keeping up with changes - AS 45 issues
4. Scheduling when short / Keeping track of fairness
5. DRS - Dealing with frustrated computer users

The real story according to the LA 2's, 3's & DRS.

Best / Easiest

1. Delegating
2. Pay increase
3. More input
4. More responsibilities
5. Creating team environment

Worse / Hardest

1. Delegating
2. Repeating yourself
3. Separating work relationships
4. Staff scheduling
5. Negative attitudes

Municipal Guards

The Library Assistant 2's, 3's & Digital Resource Specialists thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Down time
2. Meet many people / i.e. buildings / contractors
3. Financially rewarding
4. Uniform by employer
5. Work station

Worse / Hardest

1. Grounds Keeping
2. Bathroom cleaning
3. Handling difficult patrons
4. Securing building
5. Essential personnel

The Library Assistant 1's thought:

Best / Easiest

1. No LA duties
2. Get to walk around
3. Get to put people out
4. Offer coworkers a sense of protection & safety
5. Uniforms show patrons exactly who they are

Worse / Hardest

1. Unruly patrons
2. Cleaning public bathrooms
3. Grounds-keeping (grass, snow, etc)
4. Some guards not properly trained
5. Dual job (guard & custodian)

The Librarians thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Seeing immediate results of their work
2. Variety
3. Get to be outside when its nice
4. Relationships (talking time to talk)
5. Creating safety / haven

Worse / Hardest

1. Cleaning bathrooms
2. Emergency cleaning
3. Problem patrons
4. Constant awareness
5. Shoveling snow

What the Municipal Guards had to say:

Best / Easiest

??????? (They ran out of time)

Worse / Hardest

1. Cleaning toilets
2. Grass
3. Babysitter
4. Shovel snow
5. Lack of good equipment
6. Underpaid
7. Clean up behind people
8. Have to deal with problem patrons

Librarians

What the Library Assistant 2's, 3's & Digital Resource Specialists thought:

Best / Easiest

1. Sit down
2. Execute their vision
3. Help patrons
4. Spend Grassroots money
5. Salary

Worse / Hardest

1. Managing staff
2. Writing reports / evaluations
3. Difficult decisions about patrons
4. Communication with staff
5. Dual roles

What the Library Assistant 1's had to say:

Best / Easiest

1. Reference questions
2. Don't work circulation desk
3. Going on outreach
4. They don't have to do library cards
5. Don't have to do money drawer

Worse / Hardest

1. Managing staff
2. Being on floor all day
3. When to enforce policies
4. Dealing with building issues
5. Dealing with disgruntled patrons

What the Municipal Guards thought:

Best / Easiest

1. They get a nice check
2. Responsible for the branch
3. Get to decide how to spend Grassroots
4. They get to do outreach
5. If they like you they have your back

Worse / Hardest

1. Have to deal with everyone
2. Take public's side
3. Disrespectful to guard
4. Listen to LA's
5. They have to make the final decision

And, the Librarians say:

(They actually did two.  One for generic "Librarian" and one for "Library Supervisors/Branch Managers")

Librarian

Best / Easiest

1. Focus on programming
2. Focus on patron service
3. Relationships
4. Buying stuff
5. Reference Questions
6. Not so many staff issues
7. Vocational calling

Worse / Hardest

1. Staff issues (without formal authority)
2. Being Acting LS1
3. LS1 not letting me do what I need to do (micromanages)
4. Job insecurity
5. Lack of respect / understanding of vocation

Library Supervisor (LS1) / Branch Manager

Best / Easiest

1. Authority
2. Learning new things
3. Still a librarian
4. More diversity in job
5. Setting the tone of the library

Worse / Hardest

1. Telling people no
2. Policy interpretation / access to policy
3. Mediating
4. Scheduling fairly
5. Keeping the building open
6. Ninja problem staff

Note:  I did very little editing to these responses.  All have been transcribed to the best of my ability.