[LM_NET] HIT-->Suffering from Burnout

[Deb Waugh <deb.waugh@YMAIL.COM>]

I received many wonderful and helpful
responses to my target. Many thanks to all who responded. Obviously,
not all of the advice is right for me, but the very things that
didn't fit what I needed may be just what you need!

I am going to use excerpts here instead
of copying the entire messages sent (some people did not wish to
share all their thoughts with the whole list) and list those who
helped at the end of this hit with the exception of those who asked
that I not post their name.

My target was:

I am very enthusiastic
about librarianship and being a librarian...except when I'm at work.
I'm in total burnout there. This year I didn't even enjoy picking out
and buying new books which is usually one of my favorite things to
do. I'm hoping that by returning to LM_Net and other library networks
that I'll gain some more enthusiasm, but I'm looking for more tips on
recovering from burnout. In particular, right now I've got a
principal that I can't stand (and the feeling is mutual), I don't
like to go to the teachers' lounge because I don't like crowds, I
miss a lot of days of work, and I guess I just feel alone.
Appreciated, but alone. I like the kids--a lot--but other than
interacting with them I can't seem to work up any feeling of interest
in the rest of the job. I'm very disorganized, the whole library is a
mess, and if it wasn't for two student assistants who have taken up
the slack almost nothing would be getting done. I don't respect
myself because I know I'm not doing a good job, and that seems to
just create an endless cycle of misery for me.

Responses:

Time for you to find a new
job. The Universe is speaking loud and clear to you, time to pay
attention. And you aren't really enthusiastic about librarianship.
You make that clear in your email. But there will be others who are.
Give them a chance. Take a leave of absence and see if that makes a
difference. Maybe a change of venue would help.  

---I received
another message from the same person later that same day.:

I sent that off kind of quickly, so it may have sounded
a bit blunt?  :)
Once you let yourself know that you really
aren't that happy, you will open yourself up to either finding a new
place to work, which sounds like one of your biggest problems, or
looking in another direction. Surely after 30 years you should be at
the top of the scale for retirement by now? I have been through times
when I have had a principal that I didn't meld well with and it
impacts your whole day somehow.
Now, trying to keep insurance is
another thing. That is important. 
I just want people in
librarianship who love to be there, and that's not to say the person
replacing you won't feel the same way you do at some point, but it is
hard enough these days to keep librarians hired without adding to the
mix one who isn't happy. I heard librarians lost jobs in my district
this past year solely because they were not well liked at their
school. So I want people who aren't happy in their jobs to get out
and let others in. Plenty of people looking for work these
days.
Shoot, if i had 30 years in, I -would- have my 80 points for
retirement and I would be looking around to see what else might be
available for me to do. But I have 4 more years before that is even a
possibility and I am praying I will be able to keep my job at least
that long, and longer is I still feel like it. I don't have another
income so I do have to work at something. 
It's a lot to think
about, but start thinking about what you would do it you could do any
job? Oprah says to follow your passion and the rest will fall into
place. :)
But life is too short not to be happy at something you
have to do for such a big part of your day. Snd you deserve to be
happy, don't you? :)
Wow, that is a very brave request. If anyone gives you a
hassle for feeling the way you do, please don't let it get to you. I
think what you wrote is incredibly courageous and honest.
I hope
you get lots of useful suggestions because you are NOT alone in your
feelings. It is a really hard place to be, knowing that your heart is
partly there, but not completely there. 
Compiling this HIT will
be a real service to the whole group, thank you.
 I start out each day by telling everyone I meet that
it's a beautiful day.
Pretty soon I start believing it myself.
 If I didn't know better, I would think I had written
this post! I am feeling the same way! I wish I could help, but I
don't know what to do except keep going back to work day after day. I
keep hoping for some kind of miracle, but it hasn't happened. Our
district seems to think that technology
integration specialists and literacy coaches are the way of
the future. It doesn't matter how much I try to do to demonstrate my
knowledge of both areas - I am still the black sheep. If I try to
collaborate, they take the credit; if I try to do it myself, I get NO
support. Once in a blue moon, I'll find a teacher who will let me do
a little bit, but not often. I look at people like Joyce Valenza and
feel so inadequate. I really don't know the solution, but at least I
think I am in good company if you are feeling the same way. I have
always admired the contributions you have made to the listserv and
the ideas you have written about! )
---A note from me: Several people picked up on the clues
that I might be suffering from depression. (Time to get my meds
adjusted. -g-), and I agree with them on that. You always need to
consider this if you are feeling burnt out, and see your doctor about
it even if you're not sure! There's no shame in being depressed. It's
a clinical disease that can be treated, not a weakness! The message
below is one example. (There are several more along the same lines,
but I decided not to include all. I have given the authors' credit.)
I think you are very brave to have written that email. I
think I'm having a bit of it too, myself. I can't imagine having a
hate-hate relationship with my principal which must weigh heavily on
your days.
If I were you, I'd go see my primary care physician or
ob/gyn and ask him/her to put you on a low dose of prozac. You'd be
surprised how much it boosts your mood. Once you feel better about
life you may begin to enjoy your job again.
The alternative is you
force yourself to interact with your teachers, either one on one or
in a group, asking them how they are doing, what's new in their
lives, etc. and NOT focusing on your feelings. If anyone asks just
say you're working through some stuff and change the subject back to
them.
Do you have a website? What about putting some energy into
your creative side and showing who you are, what you stand for in the
library, photos of your room, etc. It might give you the incentive to
clean up and make it look great (for the photos).
What you don't
want to do is let your feelings get on the rumor mill at your school.
I'm sure you're avoiding this but you know how that is.
---Another side note from me: Prozac is not your only
option for an antidepressant. It may not be the best choice for you,
and if so, your doctor can try you on different meds until you find
the right one.
I too have had terrible principals, but I outlasted
them. Usually you have enough privacy in your own library that you
can make it your own world. It probably isn't a good idea to post bad
feelings about your principal when you have your signature with your
school attached to it. (Oops!)
I've been a
librarian for 34 years now and will be retiring at the end of this
year. I have loved every year (some more than others). Yes, the
teacher;s lounge can be a very depressing place to be...but you don't
have to go there. Figure out what makes a good day for you & do
the best you can to create it.
Sounds
like you need to set up an organization scheme to get you back on
track. Maybe your two student assistants can help you tackle the job.
The good news is that you still enjoy the kids. That is the most
important part. The other "stuff" is not as important! 
Write a To Do list. Microsoft Outlook has a great To Do
List function that sends pop-up reminders at the appropriate times,
so you can take your mind off less-important tasks, at least for now.
Less mind clutter equals more productive work.
Organize
paperwork. Plastic bins and file folders are your friend. Splurge
and get yourself some attractive ones that brighten up your work
space. Label as many folders and bins as you must, and find a system
that works for you. Perhaps separating by due date works best ­
simply work on papers from the file with the nearest date. Maybe it
would help to separate by project. Either way, stacks of paper
everywhere with no rhyme or reason will slow you down each time you
have to search for and gather what you need. (Do the same for e-mails
in your inbox. Create folders for messages relating to specific
projects or topics for ease in searching and reference.)
Tackle
unwanted projects first. That way you aren't dreading them, which
can slow down your day.  
Clean house. Toss anything
that hasn't been used in a year - paperwork, emails, books, equipment
- anything and everything that is causing clutter, chaos, and that
overwhelming feeling of being burned out.
 Happy New Year! Put on some happy music and dance around
the library with the kids. Hold contests for straightening shelves or
selecting books. Enjoy yourself. Life is too short to sweat the small
stuff.
 I am quite concerned. Based on what you have said in
your letter you don't have burnout, you have depression. If ever
there were a cry for help, you put it out there. Yes, I am not a
health care professional but those are classic symptoms right down to
missing days at work. Have you talked to your physician about this or
perhaps your school nurse?There are so many fine pharmaceuticals
(this I do know!) out there that will help with what you are dealing.
You really must see someone, I am really concerned for you. The
loneliness can be devastating and the whole depression thing can be
crippling and you seem to have pulled yourself completely inward.
Having a principal we don't like is not uncommon (although I love
mine but she won't be around forever) and while you don't like crowds
even going to the lounge won't help your feeling of isolation.
Please, please, please see a doctor tomorrow and please keep in
touch, I will hold you in my heart.
--Note from me: Many people shared with me that they
were also having problems. This was actually very helpful, since I
replied to each and in the process found some positive thoughts of my
own.  The one below is a good example:
I
am thinking that we are all the "victims" of our own
success, so to speak. We have made the library an indispensable
component of the school and the curriculum, and consequently we carry
a heavy load to make sure that it continues to be a success. I know
in the long run that I am appreciated by the administration and most
of the faculty for what I do for them, and I would hope by the
students as well, but sometimes when I get called in to the office
because little Johnny is "scared" of me (translation: he
doesn't do his library assignments, which are graded and its easier
to blame me instead of realizing the student is lazy) it makes me
more than a little annoyed that I have to adapt to 620personalities
instead of the other way around, like in "real life." They
don't see "the big picture" and we make it look so easy.
When I get in my funk I say to myself that I will cut back and do
only the minimum but of course that never happens. I had even thought
about asking for an unpaid sabbatical, just so I can recharge my
batteries. We start off in September with such good intentions and
enthusiasm and by December we are run down into the ground.
I
don't have any specific tips....I'd love to hear the suggestions that
you receive because I think we can all use a lift. However, many
times when I run into a situation I know that God will show me a way
to deal with it. I don't know if you are a religious person or not,
but this morning in my church bulletin was what I considered to be
God's sign to me on what I need to do with this nagging aggravation
that I have that I am giving so much tothis job that it is taking
over my personal life. This is part of Mother Teresa's Prayer...I'll
give you the first part of the prayer and the last two parts because
those are the parts that I will be keeping in mind when I think I
want to walk away from the job:
"People are often unreasonable; illogical and
self-centered;
....Forgive them anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow; 
.....Do good anyway.
Give
the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
...Give
the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the end, it is
between you and God; it was never between you and
them
anyway."
You decide what your best is.
Short of leaving
your job and having to start all over again, which is a chore in and
of itself, pick one thing to achieve each day or each week and let
the rest fall by the wayside. It will relieve you of a lot of stress
and maybe help you focus on what you accomplished instead of what you
haven't done.
Good luck....you are not alone. June can't get here
quickly enough!! (and I work in the library over the summer for 140
hours)
I felt so bad when I read
your posting.  I actually just completed one of my Multimedia Schools
media center columns on "staying positive." It was therapeuticfor me to write it 
because I'm not
feeling too inspired either. But, I am in a phased retirement
situation now and working part time, which is very nice and gives me
more time for my online teaching.  
Anyway --- some of the things I shared in my article are to take on a
project that will keep you occupied for a while, hang out with
educators who might have some of the same job challenges as media
specialists (for me it's our reading and math specialists and the
gifted/talent educators), learning some new web 2.0 tools, keeping a
to do list, focusing on professional organization involvement, and
trying to looking at the situation through another lens.
--I was asked not to include the next one since the
author felt it was too personal, but some of the ideas were
excellent, so I'm including them as snippets below and not including
the person's name in the credits.
By putting other things in life first, I can do the best I can at
school...Continue to enjoy the kids - set some goals
during the school day...walk the building and say hi to some teachers
alone in their rooms - pick up a few of those good new books you
selected and read them - focus on your health and personal interests.
I really feel your pain! I have been in similar
situations and it isn't fun I think there are two ways to go: fight
or flight. If you chose fight, it has to be very strategic and slow.
You need a plan over time that will bring the library from chaos to
order and it needs to be in doable chunks. This should be
communicated to the principal so he or she knows that you are the
originator of the plans and doesn't take all the credit (has happened
to me!). Then the flight part is just get another job with a better
principal in a better situation. Those do exist. And most important -
get a mentor! And - oh yeah - take breaks!! Take a walk. Go outside!
Being a librarian is like laundry, dishes, and eating an
elephant. One load, dish, or bite at a time. The job is endless, so I
don't sweat the small stuff. I make sure I meet deadlines that are
under my control, or set by someone else if at all possible. Stuff
always comes up to distract us away from the drudgery of the job, so
make small goals, lists, what ever works. Get what you can accomplish
finished, and don't worry about the rest. Summer is only 6 months
away!
I also like to find the gems in my day and think on those
things. You are very blessed to have aids. I am a one woman show,
under appreciated by some, but love my kids and most of my staff, I
just don't worry about the rest, life is too short! Find something to
love about what you do everyday. Eye/mind candy so to speak. Put up
family pictures, dogs, what ever is your passion, what gets you
juiced up away from work and make it a part of each day at work if at
all possible. Now it you are a rock climber, not sure your
uncooperative principal would appreciate a rock wall in the library,
but hey, if you have the space and a way to get the job done, go for
it!
 You sound depressed. LM_NET is a good first step, also
good quality workshops--"professional food". I was in your
shoes not long ago. I went to a licensed
professional counselor for a few sessions. With my insurance,
my copay was $15.00 a session. She helped tremendously.. I also take
Prozac. It was difficult for me to admit I needed it but 2 weeks
after I started taking it I wondered why I waited so long. 
Good
luck. Sometimes we run dry and we have to figure out a way to refill
the well.
--Another side note: Just as Prozac may not
be the right choice for you, and you'll need to try other meds, your
first counselor may not be right for you, so shop around for a new
one until you find the right one.  
 Hi Deb - get yourself organised, plan ahead what you want to do and
how much you will do - set goals and work to achieve them. This is
difficult when in a school where the environment often operates in
crisis management mode.
I have attached a planning document - fill
it in for your context, including your staffing component - so if you
are it, the document has to be managable for just one person - you.
Get ths signed off by the principal - it also outlines exactly what
you do.

Then go to the GiggleIT Project - all free resources
including the teaching learning program and collaborate with one
English or history class - get the kids enthused and you will be
enthused too. This is all done for you, the kids work is published
via the IASL webiste (so you don't have to worry about this aspect
either). Have a good look at what is currently there including the
schools online pages.

GiggleIT Project - http://www.iasl-online.org/sla/giggleIT/index.htm

Resources
- http://www.iasl-online.org/sla/index.htm

Then
start saving and work towards getting time off to come to the
SLAQ-IASL Conference in Brisbane, sunny Queensland, Australia, 27
Sept - 1 Oct to rejuvenate yourself, meet lots of others from around
the world and a great PD
opportunity.

http://www.iasl-online.org/events/conf/2010/

An additional note from Barbara re: use of the
information cited above:
When
using the planning document contain the original authors. George
devised it for Politics and Legal Studies, I adapted it for the
Library, you will adapt it for your library. So copyright in the
footer reads: ©
G.Sekulla, adapted by B.Combes & [insert your name here].
 Always
include your library logo and a mission statement for the library at
the top of each document you produce - subtle way of reminding people
where it originated. In the middle of the footer of
every page there should be JustAsk@YourLibrary:
<your email address>
Have
also attached other forms I give my students [Can't attach to an
LM-Net message, so let Barbara or me know if you'd like copies] -
same rules apply as above - use as you will. My advice is to get your
housekeeping done first - ie. anything outstanding that requires
doing to ensure the smooth running of the library, otherwise you will
always be chasing your tail. You can use the GiggleIT project for
your literacy program since it is complete - it also operates on
creative commons so you can adapt it, only do parts of it - whatever
fits your context. Choose one person/teacher to start with - from
small successes, bigger ones will follow. Always display the final
results - in this case point parents, school admin and other
teachers to the IASL Schools Online web site so they can see
what their kids have done. 
Find an internal passion. Something you can build into
the job. Love technology? Design and make a news team happen or a
computer club. Love writing? Get a school newspaper team together. Do
something you like, can get the kids excited about and that fits the
curriculum in some meager way. I know that if I didn't have the
website, the news teams, and some other things I have built and do
everyday, I'd have a hard time getting up some days!
Life is all
about finding hidden passions in a pretty passionless world and
making them your raison d'etre!
 Deb, I saw myself when I read your post. I had two very
bad stretches where similar things converged on me. I just kept doing
"it" more, longer, and harder. Ultimately, my interpersonal
relations in the building went down hill into burnout and bouts of
crankiness/anger/depression. It took years before I realized that being an LMS is a 
job AND
it was OK to step back and do less. 
I think a lot of us in school libraries have that missionary
spirit (along with far higher professonal standards than most
classroom teachers). I possessed it, even before I morphed into an
LMS. We are very vulnerable to this kind of stress, most of us being
solo practitioners, with high demands, and little institutional
support. I moved from lower grades/solo to secondary/duo during a
recession. It worked great when the colleague and I were simpatico.
With another, it was hell....
My saviour
has been trying outside interests where I am low on the learning
curve. For me, it was quilting. I had learned to sew in college.
Meeting new people, and learning to execute artistic and charity
projects through the quilting guild refreshed my mind and fed my
soul. I've become pretty skilled...so I've segued into art quilting,
paints, paper crafts, a bit of jewelry and clay. Low on the learning
curve keeps me coming back...I'm amazed at how many current/former
educators I encounter at shops, workshops, and exhibits who do this
to keep their sanity! I have a standing joke with an old friend
"Quilting is cheaper than a psychotherapist" which is so
true...
I love what I do professionally.
I can't wait to go to work each day to share with a wonderful
colleague. We're a ying/yang in terms of our skills and talents, but
very unified on behavioral issues. We support each other every
day...we know we're unlikely to get much from the management. She is
very much a realist and has taught me to put away the library when I
go home (at least some of the time). 
If
it helps you to have more personal professional support, find a
colleague in your area and level with whom you can bond. I did that
as a solo, it was very helpful, tho' not as easy to do pre-internet.
We all need validation... You may learn that it's time to prepare for
another phase of your career, or add to your skills base, or develop
a particular talent...
Otherwise,
take a leap into something you love.I went
to a crafts camp this past summer for the first time in my life. Met
a rather frustrated high school music teacher who goes to camp for a
week each summer and does blacksmithing! At the end of the week she
goes home, transformed. It works for her every year.
Hope you find
a solution that works for you!
Wishing
you all good things for the coming year,
Thanks for all the things
you've shared with us silent readers at LM-NET
If you have a teacher's room and people put food out in
there you could do it, too. Last year I bought a few bags of those
gold Hershey nuggets and put them out with a card that said Thanks
for all of the support you give me throughout the year - You're worth
your weight in gold or something corny like that. It was surprising
how many teachers thanked me - I think for noticing them that way.
Take care!
 Hi Deb,
As a 29 year veteran teacher-librarian at the
elementary level, I've had my ups and downs. I looked at your website
(which looks fantastic by the way!) and the following questions
popped up for me:
Do you have adult assistants? 
Are your
expectations for yourself too high? 
Can you jettison anything
that you are behind on? 
Are you staying too long at work?
From
my own personal experience, hormonal changes due to age can do the
number on very well adjusted women.. Not wanting to be in the
Teachers' Lounge and your feeling of isolation suggest that you see
your doctor. 
Friendships change as we get older as well. I
started a small book group (contacted a friend who had lots of
friends) that has really helped.
My best advice: Stop feeling
guilty.. If you do not have adult assistants, cut back! Get a handle
on appearances - that's what the administration really notices and it
will bolster your feelings of self-confidence as well.
It sounds
like you have some able students to rely on. Ask the art department
for displays. 
Our district librarians meet occasionally. It helps
to share ideas and perspectives. 
Try to put a positive spin on
your relationship with the principal since he controls the $. Don't
worry that it's insincere as it's for the kids! Start with a smile
and a positive "Good morning" and keep moving. He may soon
perceive you as a very busy but positive librarian.
Working with
kids is the most important part of any librarian's job. It sounds
like you really enjoy that so focus on what really matters and what
you really enjoy!
Two more pieces of advice - take a break from
television news as it's depressing. NYT online is plenty for me. Look
at your reading material - is it too heavy? For me, books like The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyare
just right.
I have to go to the gym now because I spent the last
five days eating forbidden foods at my sister's in Oregon. Even
though I'm old, overweight, out of shape, disenchanted with the
inequities of our society and assigned to four libraries this year
instead of one, I am optimistic because I know that change,
improvement (and travel!) are in my future. 
I better get my shoes
on before I reach out and pick up one of the books I was given for
Christmas.
Please take care of yourself!
Hi, I remember reading and benefitting from many of your
posts. Don't be so hard on yourself. Seriously!
Take one aspect of
your job that you want to improve. Make it better. Take pride in the
fact that you don't need to worry about it anymore. Then take another
aspect. Widely broadcast anything new, innovative, or that which is
indicative of your hard work. It has taken me quite a while to blow
my own horn, but the younger teachers need to know what your good
ideas and strategies are so that they can learn from them. 
Don't be bashful about sharing your knowledge.  If you do this,
you'll feel like part of the gang again..
I once had a principal
whose sister worked at the school and who dominated everything we
did. Teachers left in droves. I was miserable, applied for 3 other
jobs, and got one of them. Sometimes you have to make a bold move. It
took my husband confronting me with "Get a job somewhere else!"
for me to actually consider it!
Can you invite the other
librarians in your district over for a fun type of meeting, and feed
off of their energy? You have certainly given your energy freely in
the past. It's OK to tap into somebody else's energy.
I'm pulling
for you. Take care. I wouldn't stay away from school, though. That is
just going to prolong the solution. Guess that's easy for me to say,
though, right?
Don't forget to do something nice for yourself like read
that adult book you've been wanting to read. Try scaling down the
projects to more manageable steps and cut yourself some slack if you
don't get it done because of interruptions. Principals are hard to
work with when they don't have a clue what you do. I get my kudos
from the kids and staff. They know what I do.
You do sound depressed to me as well.  I know if
feels
better to vent sometimes and hopefully it lifted some off of
you when you posted your thoughts? I was always told to write things
down just to get them out of my head sometimes....I hope that it does
get better for you and a change of scenery may just be the thing! You
bloom where you are planted and you may have done your job in your
current position and need to spread some life (blooms) some where
else ;0)  
 I'm sorry to know that you are feeling as burned out as
I. I don't have any advice for you or the group since I haven't
licked this myself. [Actually, she does. Read on.
Also, I've cut out some of the parts she didn't want to share with
the group.]I've mostly dealt with it as a mental
health issue (depression) and have found counseling, antidepressants,
yoga and meditation helpful, though not a cure.
There is always an
undercurrent of dissatisfaction inside me. I feel I only have the
ability to change myself, my attitudes, my outlooks, so I keep
working from that angle. However, this puts a lot of pressure on me,
and I'm open to looking at it differently. I will be interested to
see what others say...I've tried things that perked me up in the past
- time off, learning new technologies, taking classes, getting pets,
etc.  ...
Maybe this is the dark before the dawn, and out of this,
education
improvement will come eventually.
The brightest spot
in my work is a classroom teacher who is taking classes to become a
media specialist. She has started collaborating and consulting with
me as a result, and working with teachers is the thing that makes me
happiest. Nothing is sweeter than helping make their teaching connect
with kids. … 
I'm unhappy with the state of the world, for what
that's worth. Everything is corrupt, blah, blah, blah. I'm trying to
just work in spite of this burnout until I get to some other place.
I
have heard about Parker Palmer, an educator who wrote THE COURAGE TO
TEACH. He suffered from depression. It's on my to-read list. ...You
are not alone, and I hope things turn around for you. And for me,
too. :-)
How is your personal life? Is there someone who loves
you without question? Sometimes our personal life has a great deal to
do with our satisfaction at work.
I was sorry to see your post. I was in the same boat a
couple of years ago. At a school which I really loved, kids I adored,
and faculty that, well for the most part I worked with well. We had
some administrative changes and the place started sliding downhill
very quickly. Often I would find myself sitting in the car in the
parking lot early mornings, screwing up the courage to go in to work.
I finally changed schools. I know, pretty drastic, but I needed a
change. And I think the school needed a change from me at that point
too. That said, I hear horror stories about what my replacement is
doing (or not doing). They hired a classroom teacher to slide into
the library and work on certification. It was the easiest thing to
do, and that was what the admin tended to do, whatever was
easiest.
The new school is better, but not without problems. I had
a friend transfer there before me. Her take was that "it's
great, because you don't know enough to be in on all the politics and
gossip. No one trusts you with that, so they don't bother you with
it!" She's right.
I still have some problems. I'm a NBCT, I'm
given to reflection on my teaching more than many of my colleagues.
Sometimes I think that's as much of a curse as anything. I inherited
a really poor collection, and of course, we don't have the money to
fix it. But removing the lousy admin and particularly difficult
teachers from my life has made it better.
I'm not suggesting you
leave your school. You'll probably outlast the admin. I think you
have to tighten your focus on doable, worthwhile teaching projects
and try to let the other stuff slide off your back. Boy, now that I
wrote that, it seems like really trite advice. [I
didn't find it trite at all.]
I'm just starting a new project out of school -
renovating a house, so I think having something to do that I can be
empowered with will be a good thing. I guess sometimes you have to
fake it until you make it.
I am in a new job and one thing I've noticed is that the
students NEVER ask me for help except to refill the paper and ink in
the printer. It makes for a very boring job!
One way I've thought
around this is for me to start conducting classes in conjunction with
the classroom teachers so that students can start to see me in a
different light, with skills beyond help with the printer.
I
haven't started yet and I know its not a novel idea, but one of my
favorite things about the profession is the chance I get to help
students with their research. Something I'm not doing now at all.
The
other way I've thought around this is to read a really inspiring
professional book that will reinvigorate my love for the profession
(my TAR to lmnet). I'm hoping to get some really good responses. And
because I work alone in the library, I have no one else to
commiserate with either. [This was a common problem,
mentioned by many. Thank goodness we have LM-Net.]

Thanks again to all who
responded. I've gotten some great ideas from you, and am feel
uplifted just by hearing from you.

I hope these messages will help many who are dealing
with burnout!

Those
who responded included (in no particular order for reasons of
requested anonymity): 
Kate Gallion, Rosanne
Zajko, Patricia Sarles, Blythe Allison Bennett, Janet Gross, Angela
Eaton Wilcox, Howard Strey, Ada G. Kent, Dana Luettich, Margie Jones, Mary Alice
Anderson, Barbara Hull, T.K. Cassidy-Fleming, Colette D. Eason,
Gloria Rhoades, Linda Hill, Susan Fuentes,
Jamie Murphy Boston, Jan (n2books), Lisa Campbell, Barbara Combes,
Mary Weyant, Marsha Filipiak, Herb Wilburn


Deb Waugh
Librarian
Graham High School
Bluefield, VA
deb.waugh@ymail.com


      

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