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madsongstress t1_je9zlry wrote

Missouri librarian here. My large library system will lose a small amount of funding, rural libraries will be harmed more by this, but we do have a dysfunctional board doing their usual shennanigans...resulting in the budget being f***** with, causing numerous problems including a hiring freeze in my building which directly affects me, and the help I am able to get with the particular service I work on. I can also state that an no time in my library career have I said "Hey KID! pssst! Comere! Look at all these sexy videos!!!" Nor have I tried to convert kids to be gay. I HAVE however, helped people fill out job applications, create their first email account, find local resources they need to SURVIVE, connected people with life changing books, provided an empathic listening ear...long list. All for NO pay raise in years and now owing to the hiring freeze my job duties have doubled because employees that leave are not being replaced. It's demoralizing. If I didn't really like the job and adore my colleagues, I'd be out of here. We are on the front lines of the dumbassery and it's just getting worse. If you know any librarians, go give them a hug....unless they don't want to be touched. Then leave them the fuck alone.

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Zephyrkittycat t1_jeayrsu wrote

Not American but my heart breaks for you. Library's and librarians are treasures of the community.

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PaddlesOwnCanoe t1_jebidyz wrote

I feel ya. I'm in Tennessee and we're battening down our hatches too.

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philosophyofblonde t1_jecsxoh wrote

Not in Missouri but most of the rural libraries locally are largely funded by private endowments and the occasional grant.

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