employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Calgary Public Library

Is this your company?

Calgary Public Library Reviews

4.1

79% would recommend to a friend

(57 total reviews)
avatar

Bill Ptacek

68% approve of CEO

65% positive business outlook

Calgary Public Library has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 57 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Calgary Public Library employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Arts, entertainment and recreation industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

57 reviews
3.0
4 Dec 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great job security, generally good people to work with, decent pay, and you have the feeling of helping a much-needed institution for a city thrive.

Cons

There are few chances to advance (need to put in hundreds of hours even to have a chance to advance, and that's only in the higher-ups like you), management doesn't listen to you (most ideas are shot down or met with hostility), the union does little to nothing to actually protect the employees (I've heard of at least 3 accounts now where the union has failed or made things worse), some of the patrons are violent/frightening to the point where I seriously questioned my safety on multiple occasions. The work itself was mundane (with little opportunity to even TRY other tasks).

1.0
31 May 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some of the people are okay. Working without constant supervision is possible in some areas and is a nice change from retail. Immediate supervisors and co-workers can be lovely people, depending on who you get (just like anywhere else).

Cons

Union is beyond useless. Absolutely toxic work environment. The entire place is EXACTLY like high school. If you're popular, you're fine. If people don't like you, you'll have a very bad time. Higher ups don't care what you have to say, even if they encourage you to submit ideas. Security is lax. Be prepared to take abuse and harassment from drunk patrons, though security is usually pretty good about seeing those people out. You will likely come to feel unsafe at work, as many co-workers expressed to me. If you're a shelver or other lowly person, do not go in thinking that your opinion matters. Do as you're told even if it makes no sense or takes more time and you'll probably be fine. If you try to do things in a way that works for you but is a little different from everyone else, you will swiftly be put back in line. Company makes a public fuss about being inclusive and progressive, but treatment of disabled employees, and sometimes patrons, is disgusting. The tax-paying public would be truly shocked if they knew. If you have any medical condition beyond a bad back that requires accommodation, this is absolutely NOT the place for you. Do yourself a favour and don't. Very few opportunities for advancement. There's a reason this place has more turnover than the last retail job I had. Puts up a public face of being progressive and inclusive but on the inside, it's VERY different.

2.0
23 Apr 2019

Extremely cliquey and borderline toxic work environment

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free food sometimes, nice office, close location to transit, fridays off in summertime.

Cons

Very cliquey group, high turn over (for a small office that goes through half their staff every 12 months....), students are abused, everyone but president & VP are paid terribly, no room for growth.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 57 Reviews

Glassdoor has 74 Calgary Public Library reviews submitted anonymously by Calgary Public Library employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Calgary Public Library is right for you.