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New York Public Library

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Avoid education department at all costs - Anonymous employee New York Public Library Employee Review

2.0
Dec 4, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The thing is NYPL is a great place to work, but not the department that runs educational programs. I guess the only positive thing I can say is that the hours are not early in the morning and there is some opportunity for advancement.

Cons

Funding is always an issue, you never know if you will have your job from year to year. Runs on a different budget than the library. Too many managers that all say different things, micromanagement is also an issue. Formerly full-time positions have been turned into part-time, but responsibilities remain the same. Management tells you to get work done during your "office time" and not during programming so that you are available to "supervise." The thing is, there aren't nearly enough office hours, so that is a total joke. They then tell you that you once in a while you might have to work outside of your hours, which is ILLEGAL if you are an hourly employee. If I still worked there, I might consider filing a complaint with the department of labor for all the times I worked outside of my hours without getting paid. So I left and found a full time job instead.

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Pros

Flexible schedule and overall fun work environment

Cons

I don’t have any cons

3.0
May 26, 2026
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Pros

- Unparalleled work-life balance, especially for tech workers. - A very relaxed and friendly environment with no micromanagement. - Generous leave policies. - Most projects have very slow deadlines, so there’s no significant work pressure. - A laissez-faire work culture. - If you’re contemplating retirement, pursuing a master’s degree, or starting a side hustle, this is an excellent place to work.

Cons

- Compensation is significantly below market rate. - Toxic directors and senior leaders favor certain employees and encourage sycophancy. Sycophants are rewarded with benefits such as flexible work schedules and the ability to work remotely. - Promotion is contingent upon being a sycophant. - Directors and senior leaders often avoid the office altogether or have erratic schedules, such as arriving at 7 pm and leaving whenever they please, while simultaneously enforcing strict rules. - If you’re an ambitious individual seeking career growth, this is not the ideal place to be.

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