Passionate Staff, but Overworked and Undervalued
Pros
Many frontline staff truly care about the community and work hard to provide excellent service. Working directly with patrons—especially children and families—can be very rewarding. Some coworkers are incredibly dedicated and supportive.
Cons
Unfortunately, the overall work environment is challenging. Staff are consistently overworked and underappreciated, and expectations often shift without warning. Processes, priorities, and procedures change so frequently that there is little opportunity to feel mastery or stability in any role. Upper management struggles with communication, transparency, and consistency. Decisions are often made without staff input or clear explanation, and training opportunities are minimal to nonexistent. Part-time staff in particular are treated as inferior and disposable, which contributes to low morale. There is a pervasive “you’re lucky to be here because others want your job” attitude that discourages collaboration, professional growth, and psychological safety.
