A Library Assistant's Diary
When I started my career as Senior Technical Assistant in the govt. sector, I had only around one and half years experience. Now I remember I had that spark (Fresher’s attitude towards unknown areas or something) that kept me going during the adverse circumstances. I was little bothered about what is going around me, my attention was only on the current job in hand. Within few months I started gaining respect from my users and my colleagues and still it continues in a better way. After three to four years of my job here in this govt. sector, when I re-evaluate myself on my current position added with my observation of beautiful parts of work carried out by our trainees with the enthusiasm and confidence as I were once, I feel worried.
Since I am in a govt. sector and performing at a level better than others does not always convey that I am justifying my position. There is nobody to push you, encourage you by giving extra allowances for your duty or otherwise give you a challenging job, yet you are doing the job and the govt. is providing you a better (sometimes) salary. In a way it is OK in this sector, but, when you recollect the question, am I like this when I joined here and that brought me the respect which I enjoy right now? That matters you as a gentleman isn’t it? Yes, of course I got transformed by my job here; a little bit laziness engulfed my activities. I really wish to change that;
As an effort I revisited the way I walked before, and I got some points to remember in a long walk to Librarianship from my small experience. The points are:
- I reached my library little early
- Spoke with empathy and care for the users and for their information
- Personally assisted most of the users to their information as they were new comers and give them a good smile as I can.
- Spent more time in services and beautification. Made me available to everyone without bias.
- Tried to keep myself busy in one work or other all the time, and away from internal politics.
- Tried to learn new software(s) and applied them directly into our services.
- Give enough time for interactions with all the users and our staff daily.
- Tried to improve my social skills by trying out some books in our library on time. But kept reading various subjects for familiarity with them.
- Above all loved my work.
Simple isn’t it? As I am, even it can be edited and can incorporate many more points as for generality. Since most of you professionals are better qualified and have better experience, I humbly keeping it simple as like my experience.
For a better world.
Subeesh AC
Pune