clerk

customer service representative

youth specialist

trainer

library clerk

Orange County Library System

I've been with OCLS for 3 years and have worked with some great people. However, as I advanced into another position, things began to shift. Most of my tasks were little to nothing that I felt could challenge me to advance and become better at what I already knew and could do. Staff were ridiculously cliquey, and only invited those where there was more favoritism than others. It didn't matter your skills and your quality of work. If they didn't like you, you can't expect much. 
Overall, Management is very distant and has poor communication with staff on what they want. They expect you to do their job, so they don't have to while keeping you at a lower pay grade. Interns get more publicity and recognition than employees, which is preposterous. 
I once could say that this was and would be the perfect place for anyone wanting to go into library science and education, but unfortunately, that's not the case anymore.  Don't waste your time. 

I was employed as a clerk for about a year. During my employment I received many compliments and praise from the patron. As for the managers who are in charge, they are lacking in many aspects, one of them would be changing their prejudice views on their employees and patrons. 
I've had several uncomfortable conversation with said managers about jobs performance and how it doesn't match to their supposed standards. They do not promote base on experience or seniority, but on familiarity and personal bias. I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone of color as well as people searching for a well adjusted company. 

My responsibilities included to daily process the patrons’ holds list, which produced 30-50 entries. I daily shelved 3-4 returned books carts holding about 40 pieces of reading materials for both adults and children. I willingly assisted 3-5 patrons looking for reading materials on specific subject matters.  I spot cleaned 30 computers daily making them ready for user use. I learned to file library materials using the dewy decimal and the American alphabet systems. I assist in checking in and out on average about 100 books from local patrons of the library.

The coworkers and staff at OCLS are wonderful committed people who are unfortunately hampered by management.  Culture has shifted from an environment where one tries one's best to help patrons to one in which you are expected to help as many patrons as possible which obviously effects customer service.  Management is also monitoring staff at a micro level which inspires a culture of mistrust between manager and employee, with managers refusing employees to take earned time off and enjoy their benefits. Additionally, there are no opportunities for advancement of qualified candidates.

I love the job and my immediate coworkers, but the politics with the Administration are wild. I've never seen anything quite like it anywhere I have worked. Some departments have wonderful and accomplished leadership, others have managers in charge so out of touch and incompetent I wonder how they get their car in and out of the garage each day. Lots of "do as I say not as I do" when it comes to department heads. Trust no one. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Helping the community and the coworkers I meet.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Deal with managers that don't want to do they jobs. but no all the managers are the same, is good managers too.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
good environment, and a learning experience that help others

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
busy helping the community and get the satisfaction on do something for the customers.

A bad manager can take a good staff and destroy it, causing the best employees to flee and the remainder to lose all motivation.

A bad system will beat a good person every time.

If a flower doesn't bloom it's not because there is something wrong with the flower, it's because something is wrong with the environment.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Helping the community and making a difference 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
None, I didn't find it stressful 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Depending on the position. Open door in most cases

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Providing classes to the public, some behind the scenes work, work independently most of the time, some supervision.

Most difficult part of job was the manner n which I and fellow part timers were treated.  Expectation for quantity and quality of tasks performed was the same as full timers.  

I was not awarded requested time off.  It was mandatory that I work entire weekends even though other part timers did not have to. I made multiple attempts to revise my schedule, but the manager would not adjust the schedule.

Place where you are not respected at any level. The patrons are allowed to haress you and all you can do is to suck it up, even if are being threatened by a mentally ill patron, a pervert, or an physically aggressive stranger. All this in front of everybody, but again, all you can do is to suck it up.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Clerk 21 salaries reported	$17.12 per hour
Customer service representative 56 salaries reported	$17.52 per hour
Youth specialist 8 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour
Trainer 6 salaries reported	$22.50 per hour
Library clerk 3 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour

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