10 Things I Never Learned In Library School, part 2 (Christie G)

So, in another post I talked about times when library school doesn’t prepare you for real life in public libraries.  When you are working closely with a community, you definitely become part of their world, and are shown things that you wouldn’t see as an outsider- there are things that I know that I’ve encountered during my years as a librarian that others haven’t, whether it’s because of where I was working, or how closely I was working within the community. 

 

Once we had to lock down the library I was working in for three hours while the city’sSWAT team raided the apartment complex next door.  We were contacted by the commander, we were not allowed to let anyone in or out, so we had extra programming that day for the kids that were there- I had my PS2 there at the time, so we had a spontaneous gaming day with the console and other board games until we were given the all clear.  To this day I don’tknow what they were searching for.

I worked in a branch that had a very large and very open floor plan, but the information desk (where the librarians worked) wasn’t placed where you could see all areas of the library well.  And teens, thinking that if they couldn’t see you, the coast was clear for anything and everything.  One day as I was walking around I discovered some teens definitely enjoying the view of the courtyard while engaging in … “extra-curricular activities” in the comfy chairs.  They were excused from the library for the next few months.

While we,as a profession, say that we can have kids at the library all day, I have had this at *every* library I’ve been at. The worst case was a family of 8 siblings, the oldest twelve, the youngest only one, dropped off before we opened and picked up at closing.  They were never given any money for food for the day, or enough diapers or formula for the younger ones, so by the time lunch rolled round they were hungry, bored, and crying, not to mention in need of changing.  None of the phone numbers we would call would work, and the oldest told us they didn’t have a key to get home.  We finally had to call social services because no one was taking care of these kids- then we got complained about by the parents.

We had one of our teen volunteers struck down by a car while crossing the street and killed while he was walking home from volunteering.  We gave statements to the police, we pulled his sister (who was still in the library) in our staff room to give her space with the manager, and when his mom came we puller her in there as well.  It took hours for the police to clear the scene and finally move his body.  I can still remember the sound as he was hit, and how he looked, his voice and his laughter as he walked out the door.  No class every taught me what to do about that, or how to forget.

I have had people ask me reference questions on the phone about things that I did NOT want to know about in a million years.  One guy evidently knew my schedule, or knew what times I would be likely to answer the phone on the reference desk, and would call only on those times, asking me questions about different positions and nicknames for things that I will not post here (let’s just say they would make Shades of Gray blush). The library finally tracked down who it was and it was a 13 year old I worked with after school tutoring. Needless to say, he got a different tutor.

The kids I work with come from all different walks of life, but most of them don’t have the Ozzie and Harriet home life that we all want for our kids.  I’ve had kids tell me about alcoholic parents, drug use, gang involvement and threats, guns, theft, bullying, abuse- you name it.  Some days I go home and just dissolve into tears in my husband’s arms because it’s just too much.  Yet I know there’s nothing I can do except make my library a safe place.

I’ve had to learn on my own when to call for help in situations where teens where hurt or hurting themselves.  I’ve worked with teens who were cutters(self-mutilators), anorexic/ bulimic, drug addicted, and suicidal.  I’ve had to educate myself on warning signs and triggers, and learn when the right time is to call in authorities and when is the right time to just be the voice, or listening ear, that they need.

Completely different from FINDING them having sex, I have had teens wanting to talk to me about dating, asking others out, and when would be the right time for them to have sex.  Or about what birth control should they use.  And the hardest one I had was a teen who was struggling with whether or not they were gay, and if that made them a demon like their church said they were. No class ever prepared me for these talks.

The kids I work with get attached.  They love to hear how my day is going, they love asking about their day and their lives, and before you know it, we’re family and we get asked to birthday parties and quinceneras.  My staff and I are constants in their lives,and when one of us isn’t there, a bunch of questions follow.  When I go on vacation, or when I was out for medical leave, I always have to prep the kids on how long I’ll be gone, and when I’m coming back, and yes I will be back, and the others that will come through to help out will be very nice but yes I will be back.  And still they want to know what happened,where did you go, how did your surgery go- tons of personal questions that no class ever gave me lessons on how to answer. 

The library profession as a whole can take itself so seriously- we discuss books and practices, debate copy write and ILS, whether or not eBooks are a savior or our downfall.  Nowhere do we learn that we need to inject laughter into our daily lives in order to make it through.  If there isn’t that laughter and joy, if there isn’t that brightness then we’re not doing something right- we’re going through the motions and the youth that we’re working with can see that right off, and will stay as far away as possible. They have enough of their own problems.

Please check out part 1 of 10 Things I Never Learned in Library School by Karen J.  And share the things you never learned in library school in the comments.