GOING PUBLIC

摘要

Many of us who were on the special libraries track in library school couldn't imagine why anyone would choose public libraries over the high-tech, higher salary jobs in corporate research centers. After several years in these jobs, however, some of us are beginning to believe that public libraries may in fact be the right choice for the next career move. After 15 years working for large companies in the telecommunications industry, I chose to make the transition from corporate to public libraries and have never regretted it. It's true, most public libraries offer a relatively stable environment, even during tough times. After years of mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs, job security is a welcome change from the stress of not knowing where (or even if) I will be working a few months from now. Benefits plans for medical coverage are more generous in public libraries than in large corporations, as companies cut back severely on employee benefits. And though salaries are undeniably lower in public libraries, the money saved on medical coverage can be significant. Pension plans, vacations, and sick time are also more generous in the public sector. However, aside from these quantifiable differences, the intangible benefits of working at a public reference desk make all the difference.