I've done a bad thing.............haven't I? May be of interest to library type pple...

[niceglasses]

Been in new job for around 3 months. I'm not really enjoying it. I've returned after 4 years being a SAHM and its a big drop in role and a very different role. Its a non professional library post and I am a qualified librarian - I'm not sure this would bother me, but the role is sooooooooo tedious. I don't have enough to do. And I think their enquiry service is very very odd and not at all customer focused.

Its been really getting me down so over Christmas made a decision to be proactive. I have talked to my line manager about things which directly effect me, but about the wider issues of the whole ethos of the enquiry service, I wrote and anonymous note and put it in the suggestion box!! I feel a bit ashamed now. It wasn't rude or anything. I just said what I thought, but it probably wasn't the right thing to do. They will probably work out who it was.....will the sack me? Oh God. I think part of the problem was I didn't know who to approach but I feel quite strongly about it and quite helpless too.

What should my approach be if I get pulled up?

Deny everything!

good for you!

I wouldn't worry
they can't sack you for that
why don't you bring up your concerns in your appraisal?

Sensible thing to do..what else is a suggestion box for, if not to draw attention to problems & make suggestions? Good luck, I hope things improve for you...

At least you care enough to do something. They wouldn't sack you for that even if they did find out (which they won't unless they employ handwriting experts etc - seems a bit unlikely)

I have done far, far worse things in my job. You are a rank amateur in this respect!

Niceglasses - difficult situation, especially as you are in a non-professional post and you may feel that those in professional posts would not welcome your suggestions, thinking that you are trying to muscle in on their jobs! Is your line manager responsive to your suggestions? If I were in your position, I would do something like secretly rewrite the staff manual/procedures/create my own current awareness service or even something like a Wiki to keep busy and to aid my own professional development. What you then do with your work will depend on the politics of the place, but you can at least put it on your CV for your next job.

Yes, I need to be more constructive than writing anonymous notes to the staff suggestion box!

I also need to guard against getting sucked into the 'oh well there is nothing to do, I'll just search the net for the next 4 hours', because literally there is nothing to do a lot of the time if you are not on the desk.

I wouldn't be allowed to re-write manuals (too lowly!) but some sort of dissemination for my own use would be a good idea.

LilyMaid, I have been looking at Wikis a bit and had already asked IT if they recommend any particular software but they haven't got back to me as yet. What do you use?

Nice one niceglasses!!!

Seriously, it must be very difficult to be in your position and I would have thought your employers should appreciate your experience. I worked as a paraprofessional for a while after qualification (I'm a librarian too!! nice to meet another) and it was awful, so anything you can do to get your point across is surely a good thing.

It might not really be what you are after, but can you join an agency and get a qualified post somewhere? Are you chartered? Can you suggest to your employers that you'd like to do that, so they would need to look to giving you more interesting things to do.

fwiw, one of my friends was so sick of the state of the library she worked in that she and her colleagues filled the suggestion box with requests for redecoration...

Well I didn't get the sack.......and I'm not back in till Monday.

Going to try to be a bit more constructive. And probably look for another job, this one just didn't work out. That said, its nice to be back working.

Niceglasses - I haven't created a Wiki as yet but might consider doing so this year. This article may be useful. Meanwhile, update your CV and register with Sue Hill etc and keep badgering the agencies if you see any possibly suitable job.

Many thanks Lily - I need to rejoin Cilip (LA in my day)

Cheers