Yesterday a regular patron/customer, former volnteer, & guy who was on the committee to interview me for my job six years ago verbally assaulted me when I asked him and another man to use quiet voices in the library. Among other things he...
... said that hiring me was a huge mistake and he would regret it for the rest of his life. He, and some of the other long-timers, are not happy with the changes I’m making by employing best practices for libraries, archives, museums, and non-profits...
... This man must have been stewing for some time over the changes I’ve made, which, again are all normal in the library/archive/museum world. But the long-timers have had many years to do what they want, so the changes are sometimes met with resistance.
It is an uphill struggle that is often frustrating and demoralizing, and while I do have a few co-workers, I am the sole person working in and responsible for the library and archives. I felt especially alone and demoralized from tirade I was subjected to yesterday.
But it made me realize that one reason that I was so shaken is that nobody has ever spoken like that to me before. A supportive co-worker told me, when he heard me say that, “You’re lucky.” That gave me pause...
Yes, I am lucky, and #Thankful , for having had so many people in my life who have been loving & supportive. I always knew it, but I really felt it yesterday when I drew from it to help me patch myself back together again.
By the way, I’m pretty sure that this man does have an anger management problem, so his inappropriate reaction is probably due in part to that. Knowing that didn’t make it sting any less.
Unroll please @threadreaderapp
