After I wrote the previous post, I did take some time to reflect and really think about things. I probably sounded really ungrateful and I do apologize for that. I'm not ungrateful, I am reminded by others in my field all of the time how lucky I am to have my job. I am lucky.
At the end of September, I was lucky enough to attend a great art museum library symposium on the East Coast. I met (or caught up with) many, many others who do exactly my same job. Very interestingly, regardless of size or location, just about every single museum library is dealing with the exact same problems: reduced staff, reduced resources, lack of space and an increasingly entitled and sometimes downright hostile clientele. There were some people who have it way worse than I do. I felt for them.
However, the presentations I heard were encouraging, empathetic and inspiring. I was truly proud to be part of a profession where people really, really care about their jobs and the quality of their work. It's a profession with a very high level of conscientiousness. I was humbled by the work people were doing, despite the circumstances outlined above.
It's professional development opportunities - like this one - that help me keep it all in perspective. Thank you fellow art museum librarians!
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