Pros
Money well spent on materials, databases, and programs. The patrons/customers.
Kontras
Anyone applying here should know what you are getting into before signing up with Palm Beach County Library system. I worked for them long enough to realize what a toxic work environment they foster and it was best to leave rather than endure the disrespect and abuse. First, find a Labour Attorney because you are going to need one. There is no collective bargaining agreement and management will take every opportunity to abuse the terms of agreement of your contract when it comes to work time, sick leave (especially this one), vacation time and promotions and raises. Work performance reviews are witch hunts to make everyone who works for them feel worthless: expect nothing constructive. It is only a power trip among the managers to make them feel as if they are relevant and involved in the day to day, which they are not. Managers and Assistant Managers are often absent taking weekends and sick days to attend family functions, personal activities, and sporting events. Don’t ever get sick. They will go ballistic if you do. Work reviews are a means to punish those who do their jobs well or care about their performance. Don’t ever expect any praise or raise for anything you do well. Instead, expect them to tell you how lucky you are to have a job with them even though you are such a worthless worker. If you are working for them, never do them any favours. They will expect it always and view it as a character flaw to exploit. Workers who don’t care about their job or customer service are given leeway to do whatever, such as pawn work off on others, play games on the computers, work on their second jobs, talking on their cell phones while working at the desks and being rude to patrons. Bad workers are what management want so they can justify keeping salaries low. Circulation works well together and as a team. Children and Adult Reference do not. Simply put, if you care about your job you are going to be treated badly by management. Finally, promotions are based on the opinion of the managers, which explains why there are so many bad managers in this system. If you are good at your job, forget about ever rising up in the system. Instead spend your time looking for a job elsewhere. Respect your good workers and develop a system of management performance that evaluates all aspects of the library leadership. We are not the enemy.