Reciprocal DeMEANors: Mediating a Changing of Tides in Access Services

I've been a constant magnet for public library (and admin as well) animosity since the beginning of King Library and certainly I have never shied away from it. As I've said before, the majority was probably my own doing, born out of an excessive defiant will. I knew of the marriage coming into the job, but unfortunately, I feel, in retrospect, that I was ill-prepared for it. In hindsight I believe my laid back flexibility would afford me the opportunity to ease into the transition. Unfortunately, what I felt to be an asset was actually a peeve in the eyes of some and there bore the conflict. Further unfortunate was my initial reaction. Instead of utilizing that dynamic "self" I preached, I circled the wagons and proceeded otherwise. They certainly seemed like nice people in the few group meetings and committee I attended, but work philosophy does not make itself apparent in sporadic meetings. So, cultures clashed and I didn't make things any easier.

Liberals-Conservatives
Left-Right
North-South
Even-Odd
West-East
University-Public

Polarity. Repulsion. University vs Public. Honestly, i'm not IT, so the issues were not primarily born out of the financial difference. sure, they get paid big bucks (btw those comcast commercials ie save moolah are pretty ridunkulous), but i ain't even trippin'. but as everything is connected money plays a part. imho, i think with the city dropping so much cash on wages they really got their ears to the floor and hand on the whip ready to spank those out of line. and that's the problem, big brother is always watching for them. or as i initially called it, the Patriarch. to me it's that general lack of trust of the staff, that each part of their day is scheduled and monitored. and its not exactly our peers in AS, its top down and i can only assumed somewere scared into submission. i'm not saying we in the u are all gravy, we need to get our work done, but it's a liberal, trusting leadership that allows us to go home leaving work and work related stress at work. in reality it's this conservative approach vs the liberal mentality of the u, that spurned the clash. it's also why i don't trip about the payscale, because i am glad i have that umbrella of the U around me. anyways, i fought the fight because i did't want to run or submit without a fight.

you know this is a bunch of rambling, but it needed to get out. i think when beth asked the dean and director what the trouble of having a joint library, they sugar coated a lot because they could hide in their offices and make phone calls to get doantions. they didnt live in a true merge atmosphere and they still don't. they can pick and choose their "joint" we just have smoke what we got.