Library Jobs: Single People Need Not Apply?
As some of you already know, I am a career changer—after ten years as a financial analyst, I returned to school (Rutgers) to pursue my MLIS. It was time to follow my childhood dream to become a Librarian. I continued to work at Dow Jones at first, then left in the fall of 2007 for library work. I now juggle two part-time adult services positions at Princeton Public Library and Mary Jacobs Library (part of the Somerset County Library System). I love my jobs--love working with the public, love hunting down information, love teaching people to use library resources, and love providing reader’s advisory help. From the very first moment I began my public library internship, I knew that I had made the right choice!
Last week I did a quick review of the job posting lists on-line (NJLA, Rutgers SCILS, Somerset County, Mercer County, Ocean County, and Middlesex County). There was exactly one full-time Adult Services position in New Jersey public libraries posted. This has been the case for months now--a job here, a job there, but never more than three at a time, usually less. Many folks tell me you have to put your time in working part-time. No problem! As I noted above, I love my part-time jobs. However, there is one very difficult issue—health insurance.
To put this in perspective, the cost of my health insurance each month is:
$60 more than my car payment.
Over 25% of my take-home pay.
64% of my mortgage payment (not including property taxes, after all, I live in NJ!)
When I lament my lack of health insurance and the bleak outlook for any full-time employment in NJ public libraries, I get a very disturbing response: Can’t you get insurance from your husband’s job? This has been the response of both co-workers and classmates. This is generally the first response. Has the library profession become one available only to married people? Why does everyone expect some other employer to insure me? Why do so many people in the library field think this concept of not getting benefits from your employer is perfectly ok? Am I the only person who finds this attitude disturbing?
I am about to graduate in May. This means I have to start thinking more about full-time work. I am not actively looking at the moment--I hope to have my part-time work turn into full-time work. However, I do keep my eyes open for interesting posts just in case. What I have noticed is that I am now looking at postings for jobs in the corporate area again. I don't want this, but I know it may be my only chance to have affordable health insurance. At some point, that will become critical. Now, each time I look at online postings, I hit the old finance lists after I finish the library ones.
I will leave you with one last thought--When all the semi-retired, part-time, adult services librarians retire, will there be anyone left to take their posts? Or will they have left for full-time positions outside the library field?
Labels: health insurance, jobs, public libraries
posted by Cynthia @ 3:01 PM
6 comments
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6 Comments:
Another single person here who transferred from the corporate world to the library world.
I think there are some interesting biases at work in library land; to do a differnetspin, yes, those of us in the full time world get benefits: including for spouses and children. I, as a single person without children, don't need that...but I should could use more money, because I don't have a partner to rely on in terms of rent, saving money, and purchasing a house. Full time benefits have a bias towards those with families, no doubt. At this point in time, the idea of homeownership in NJ is impossible. I also have found that the people who have input into salaries do not understand the high cost of living in NJ: one person I spoke to assumed the rent in my local county for a one bedroom apartment was around 500.
Take a peak at this, released earlier this week: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=asRJDiTjyPJs&refer=us. Be sure to click thru the the actual report.
Based on those numbers of what a family of 4 need, a library salary does not allow a person to be a sole breadwinner for their family. Which means if someone wants to be a single parent; or is divorced without support, or has a spouse who dies (and without any additional support), the salary paid at a typical NJ library won't allow them to support their family; not unless the librarian goes into management, which may not be a role they want.
Do I think I made the right choice? Yes. But I find it sad that I would hesitate to offer this as a career to someone who is single, especially someone who is single without additional funds (thru parents or a partner.) (Re additional funds: for the first five years of my full time career, I lived with my parents. Yes; 30 something living at home, because the rents for a single person are that high. I wasn't prepared to do the ramen noodles/laundry life style, but other people do not have that option.
What is additionally laughable about the report is the advice given so that someone isn't working pooor; including getting education. Doesn't give much help to those of us who did get the education.
This is an issue I've thought a lot about -- both as an employee and as an employer. It was disheartening to learn that, after calculating the full compensation package in a previous position, I earned less than those who reported to me -- entirely because of health care and other benefits.
But I have seen a different dynamic at work. At my last position my organization's benefit package remained unchanged while large employers in the area cut benefits. The result? Employees that were on their spouse's plans at work suddenly switched the whole family to our plan. Our health insurance costs rose dramatically. And the disparity in compensation between single staffers and staffers with spouses and children grew.
We could not afford to extend our coverage to part time workers, given the cost of health insurance for our full time staff. We were able to allow part time staff to purchase health care at our rates, but as was noted, all health insurance is expensive.
But I think that it is not the profession that is unfriendly to single folks. We use the same compensation model as everyone else -- at least in the public sector. That is not to say that I don't understand that our overall pay is less than it should be. I just mean that the model of combining salary with a benefits package that substantially rewards employees for being spouses and parents was the norm in the private sector for a long time. The model of hiring part timers instead of full timers is also not unique to libraries. Compensation models have changed in the private sector but that change seems to come more slowly to the public sector.
Is there some way to get the full url that Liz posted? it is cut off on my screen - I would like to see the Bloomberg report mentioned.
Thanks!
Amy, I got inspired to post at pop at http://www.popgoesthelibrary.com/2008/03/single-in-library-land.html
which has a better link, to the actual report rather than news about the report. The link in the pop post brings you to the report; the actual report is a pdf.
I'm not sure that the link will work but here is the Asbury Park Press's article about the study; the article is dated April 9: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/NEWS/80409068
I've had to apply (and work at) jobs I didn't enjoy so I could get decent insurance coverage--I have several medications that I take daily and they are not optional. The result ended up in lots of stress, which--surprise!--caused me to have even more health care expenses. I don't know the answer.
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