Beth,
Yasher Koah! I have to say that as a publisher, the issue with public libraries is equally hypocritical. Public libraries claim not to purchase Jewish titles because supposedly they don't purchase Christian titles. However, they do purchase all kinds of Christian titles under different masks, i.e. for Latinos, Blacks, ethnic Russians, French, etc. Even a library in such a "Jewish" suburb as Skokie, IL uses the same lame excuse and thus refuses recognize Jews as a people. Strange(?!). when gentiles (unfortunately with the support of many Jews) wish to see Jews, they see us everywhere; when it is convenient for them, they see us nowhere. Alex From: hasafran-bounces+agendler=publishersrow....@lists.service.ohio-state.edu [mailto:hasafran-bounces+agendler=publishersrow....@lists.service.ohio-state .edu] On Behalf Of beth wong Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 1:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] Shomer Shabbat and Working in the Public Library I am shomer Shabbat and I work public. If I were looking for a library job today, I don't know that I would consider public, based on the scarcity of jobs, the huge candidate pool, and my past experiences. Which I will now share. I was hired as a public librarian in a large south-Florida system in 2004; during my interview, I said I wouldn't be able to work Saturdays for religious purposes. My interviewer said she wasn't legally allowed to ask me about it, and she also said she could not promise me that I would never be asked to work Saturdays; however, no one wanted to work Sundays, and that was a fair scheduling swap. When they offered me the job, I took my chances. The county cut Sundays in 2008. I was given a copy of my new schedule, which included alternating Saturdays. When pressed, my supervisor told me that there was no position for me if I couldn't work Saturdays. I took it to the union. I pursued this issue to the best of my ability, and was ultimately told by upper administration that I did not have a legal case as the county does not offer religious accommodation for anyone. I thought that I'd be fired as a Saturday-no-show. However, a call for volunteers went out to my coworkers, and a good friend offered to work every Saturday in exchange for a schedule that fit her life better. In 2012, the library system reopened regionals on Sundays. I was once again beloved for my willingness to work every Sunday, although now the churchgoers are angry, and supervisors make a point of telling me about how no one is offered religious accommodation and I should remember how unfair that is to them. No win. I hope this helps! Beth Wong
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