Library jobs often come with a variety of duties depending on the size of the library. Larger libraries can afford to create entire departments based around one task such as cataloging, answering reference questions, or handling basic public services, but smaller libraries may require employees to wear a variety of hats. This may include basic cleanup duties in a staff break room or even emergency janitorial duties. I learned a long time ago that I wasn’t too good to clean up after other people, and this just became a regular part of my duties while working in smaller libraries.
On one particular job, I faced more than just regular and daily library duties. I needed to do some serious decluttering, organizing, and rearranging for the entire library including my office and a storage closet that I fondly referred to as “the black hole” because of the variety of items stored there. It was overwhelming at first because I couldn’t even turn my office chair without knocking into a box or pile of something. The library bookcases had boxes on the top and bottom shelves full of items that needed to be decluttered, sorted, recycled, discarded, or used. There was so much stuff that I spent nearly the entire time I worked there cleaning and decluttering on top of my regular library duties. Thankfully, I did manage to rid the office, bookcases, and closet of unnecessary items so I took pride in that when I left.
When I moved to another library, I was eventually given a particular desk where a long-term employee had just retired. The cabinets were full of the remains of years of hard work on her part, and initially, I didn’t know what to do with everything. However, from my previous experience, I learned that a cluttered space was bad for productivity so I communicated with the director about what could go versus what should stay. Eventually, I cleaned out the space of items that didn’t need to be retained, and when it came time for me to move on, it was easier to pack up and allow a fellow employee to move in. She didn’t have to make as many adjustments because they had already been done.
I’ve unintentionally built a career on stepping into jobs and cleaning up what has been left behind because, over the years, I’ve learned that an orderly space is a productive space. I organize to my own specifications because I’ll be the one using the space. If I need to organize for someone else, then I communicate with them about how they will use the space. I never meant to become an organizer at work. It just turned out to be a skill that evolved from cleaning and decluttering, and it became an evolving skill that I used increasingly as I moved from one library job to another.
That particular skill has helped me personally, too, as I used those decluttering and organizing skills to make my home workspace more efficient and productive. If I ever return to working for someone else, I would use this skill set in my job duties as it is one that has naturally grown over the years. Also, it is a skill that many people know is important, but they don’t always have time to do it themselves so they’re glad that another employee is willing to do the cleaning, decluttering, and organizing.
Some skills that we have develop as a by-product of something we already do. Since I was already doing basic cleaning and decluttering, organizing was just the next natural step. As you evaluate your skills, think about talents that grew out of something you already did on a regular basis. If you are applying for a new career field, look for keywords that describe your evolving skills that show up in job descriptions, and make certain to use those keywords on your resume and cover letter. If you are beginning a freelance career, find a way to use those evolving skills to your advantage. Given enough time those skills may continue to evolve into something even more valuable.
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. (Proverbs 31:27, NLT)
All Things Subject to Change 