Libraries As Buildings

Egad! Less than 6 hours later, episode 2 is upon us!!!

But seriously, it's not that bad. Or important. Probably.

I figured I'd start laying the groundwork for fleshing out views on all things library (that I know of, anyway). In order to breach the specific topic that I have in mind, I will start with saying that if I had an opportunity to advise all hopeful librarians-to-be prior to applying for positions, the following advice would be dispensed:
"When you go for an interview, ask about pests, leaks, and smells."

You may be clucking your tongues like hens and tsking like appalled nursemaids, and I would initially agree with you, since it would seem rude on the face of it to ask a potential employer about their building problems. However, it is something that will affect the hopeful librarian-to-be should they land the position. Afterall, a job has an entirely different appeal once situated under a leak, and if that leak happens to be above a drop ceiling tile, then you may want to invest in a safety helmet along with that umbrella. And bugs? Never mind that your window that looks out upon a beautiful, awe-inspiring vista of green hills, trees swaying in the breeze, and gaily floating butterflies (or another industrial complex, for that matter) seems like it's been properly sealed against the elements, the bugs will find a way to invade your space. One would like to know if ant traps, ant sprays, and thumb-squashing is a requirement for performing a job uninterrupted.

Of course, you may be the Bear Grylls type and therefore heartily embrace all possible extreme situations that require you to act in way that forces coworkers to squeamishly squirm upon observing your behavior.

I suppose an interviewee could broach the subject by asking about the age of the building and its past history. A 50-year-old brick-and-mortar structure that used to be a frat house would present certain likely structural issues than, say, a 12-year-old converted end-of-the-world shelter. And then there's the issue of who's responsible for upkeep of the facility. Do the employees perform cleaning duties? Do repairs come out of the library budget if the building is owned by local government (a common situation in Western Pennsylvania)? If renovations are to be made, how much of a hassle is it to implement from start to finish compared to the necessary hassles of enacting renovations?

These are not issues that most hopeful librarians-to-be will think of, because they are usually just anxious to land a job.

From personal experience, 50+ year-old former club houses maintained by local governments should give an employee pause.

Or in the expert method of Bad Translator, "Government buildlings, libraries, the poor". There's a sort of correlation there.