12 Most Underrated Jobs…

According to job website, CareerCast, librarians along with 11 other careers are considered the most underrated jobs for 2013.  Take a look at the article posted on CNBC.  I’m not sure how objective and factual based this list is, but I’d have to agree being a librarian is definitely underrated.  I feel like every few months, I jump up on my soapbox to say my peace about being a librarian – it’s not always easy, but I LOVE my job!

Unfortunately, they start the piece about librarians off with the ever-present, “SHHHH….” something that in many (public) libraries is falling more and more by the wayside as libraries are becoming the community center for children, teens, adults, and seniors alike.  I understand that in some places libraries should be a little on the quiet side, but my desk is firmly entrenched in our children’s department and on any given day I have a number of preschoolers and toddlers playing with our train table, kitchen set, and other toys, while a few more kids are sitting at the early literacy game computers, and even a few older kids are playing the Wii.  And for the most part I have learned how to block out the noise!

Jobs in libraries are considered underrated by “low stress level and better office environment than average” as well as “librarians have an opportunity to work in an environment they love. They have good hours. And they’re serving the public, which is what most librarians get into this business to do.”  I could argue for and against a number of these items.  Low stress?  Talk to a librarian who is constantly battling for more funding.  I mean, yeah we have much lower stress than say a surgeon, but it’s all relative!  Good hours? I just worked a 12-hour day yesterday…  But I completely agree with working in an environment I love and doing something I feel is important!  I love my job, I love “my kids”, and I don’t think I’d change it for anything!