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This is really for my fellow Singaporeans (I hope this gets passed around):
Soon after my post on NLB libraries opening longer on weekends, I received a comment from anonymous, who was skeptical that the library was able to extend opening hours without additional costs. I posted a reply, indicating broadly how the libraries were able to do this.
In composing the reply, I realised that anonymous was actually right. There ARE additional costs, but not what most would think.
The cost here is really the opportunity cost of working on weekends. And the people bearing this cost are my colleagues in the front lines -- the Library Assistants, Library Officers, the Librarians.
Sure, someone might point out that staff get compensated (either with an equivalent time-off or overtime pay) for working on weekends, so there isn't a real opportunity cost. But I'd argue that nothing can fully make up for the loss of those weekend hours -- where one could have spent that time with family and friends, or just sleeping in after a work week. Weekends are often the only time most families and friends can get together.
Ok, before you think I'm ranting about the injustice of having to work weekends, or that I'm just posting a load of crap 'cos I don't work weekends as a manager -- well, I've done my share of weekends over the years. But that's not my point.
My point is that most library front-line staff (i.e. those who are customer-facing or manning call centres, ensuring that libraries for public use are open 7 days a week) are a dedicated lot, whether consciously or not. Sure, some grumble but they trundle on. Most try their damnest to serve library users the best that they can. They do this while dealing with a rising number of rude and ungracious kids and adults, plus the sheer stress of facing the crowds.
It's not a glamourous job, and they don't get huge bonuses. Unlike private companies in general, there are no sales profits for getting more customers to come into libraries.
Heck, I'm not even asking you to write compliments. I just sincerely hope that you, the NLB library user, remember what your fellow Singaporean is sacrificing.
Soon after my post on NLB libraries opening longer on weekends, I received a comment from anonymous, who was skeptical that the library was able to extend opening hours without additional costs. I posted a reply, indicating broadly how the libraries were able to do this.
In composing the reply, I realised that anonymous was actually right. There ARE additional costs, but not what most would think.
The cost here is really the opportunity cost of working on weekends. And the people bearing this cost are my colleagues in the front lines -- the Library Assistants, Library Officers, the Librarians.
Sure, someone might point out that staff get compensated (either with an equivalent time-off or overtime pay) for working on weekends, so there isn't a real opportunity cost. But I'd argue that nothing can fully make up for the loss of those weekend hours -- where one could have spent that time with family and friends, or just sleeping in after a work week. Weekends are often the only time most families and friends can get together.
Ok, before you think I'm ranting about the injustice of having to work weekends, or that I'm just posting a load of crap 'cos I don't work weekends as a manager -- well, I've done my share of weekends over the years. But that's not my point.
My point is that most library front-line staff (i.e. those who are customer-facing or manning call centres, ensuring that libraries for public use are open 7 days a week) are a dedicated lot, whether consciously or not. Sure, some grumble but they trundle on. Most try their damnest to serve library users the best that they can. They do this while dealing with a rising number of rude and ungracious kids and adults, plus the sheer stress of facing the crowds.
It's not a glamourous job, and they don't get huge bonuses. Unlike private companies in general, there are no sales profits for getting more customers to come into libraries.
Heck, I'm not even asking you to write compliments. I just sincerely hope that you, the NLB library user, remember what your fellow Singaporean is sacrificing.
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