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Columbus Metropolitan Library

Engaged employer

Columbus Metropolitan Library Reviews

4.2

90% would recommend to a friend

(108 total reviews)

Lauren Hagan

Not enough data to show CEO approval

81% positive business outlook

Columbus Metropolitan Library has an employee rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 108 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Columbus Metropolitan Library employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Government and public administration industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

108 reviews
2.0
15 Apr 2014

Library no longer.

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Books. These are on the way out but there still are some available. The library itself. Its continuing existence is of essential importance. Co-workers (non-management) are generally great folks. These are the people who help you get through the day, who know where you're coming from because they have been there, too.

Cons

Customers are primarily loud, bored, hyperactive teens who have nowhere else to go. Adults want to get on a computer and pay scant attention to what their children do. Lax rules allow them to do pretty much whatever they want. Security guards who want to remove disruptive customers are often contradicted by management: this maneuver undercuts the guards' authority and legitimizes customers' behavior. The library further encourages this play-time atmosphere by providing toys, which are thrown, scattered, and must be cleaned up by staff multiple times a day---along with food wrappers, drink cups, and other debris. Older customers, those who do not have smart phones, who read actual books, are disregarded. Youth is worshiped, courted, and emphasized to the detriment of anyone who is not of this demographic. Library is trying to be everything---day care center, parent, friend, teacher, entertainment----that is trendy and shiny and new. So much effort must be expended on keeping up with every fad that substance is forgotten. Its reach is exceeding its grasp. Much is made of 'celebrating diversity'. This celebration is only skin deep. If one has an opinion differing from the stated management position one had better keep one's mouth tightly shut. No matter if you see a way to do something better---if it is not in line with the Handbook you will be ignored or disciplined. Or both. If you are ethnic and young, CML will love you. Don't bother applying if you are middle-aged. The worship of youth extends to who gets hired. Exception to this is if you are really good at making doe-eyes at management propaganda.

3.0
29 Nov 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Only there for two months. I enjoyed my time there. Co-workers and customers were great. Wish my time wasn't short lived by needing medical care.

Cons

Unfortunate, that they let employees go for needing medical care. Received call day before surgery that medical leave is not approved and my employment would be ending. However, was told I could reapply. Really unfortunate that they want to practice "customer first" but forget about employees. Hope they review policy and procedures.

4.0
19 Feb 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people to work with. A generally happy environment. Getting to encourage patrons to try new books was always a pleasure. Awesome place for 16 yr/olds looking for job experience, though they might want to volunteer for a year prior to give themselves a leg up. Quiet place in the evenings and bustling during the school year days. Wednesday nights in the fall bring a couple men who volunteer their time and guitar skills to play background music for a couple hours.

Cons

Many people were transferred to smaller branches while Main is under construction, and most of those people are doing great with the change in location. However, one who had been used to little-to-no supervision, operates in an illogical manner which is highly detrimental to their new team members. Attempts made by co-workers and management to help the new staff member understand their job requirements were met with a voiced refusal and a shocking lack of respect for management. Said employee is still there after many months of this behavior.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 108 Reviews

Glassdoor has 111 Columbus Metropolitan Library reviews submitted anonymously by Columbus Metropolitan Library employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Columbus Metropolitan Library is right for you.