ABSTRACT
Librarians can experience stress and diminished confidence when starting a new job. Some people feel overwhelmed, frustrated, disoriented, or defensive when they suddenly don’t know how to do mundane tasks. Learn about this phenomenon and how to deal with it using concepts from psychology and pointers from the authors and other experienced librarians. This chapter uses the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, and the concepts of emotional differentiation and culture shock to help you cope. Learn tips on handling nerves and dealing with ambiguity. This chapter will help you put your past work experience in context for your new colleagues and deal with their assumptions about the library environment that you transitioned from. You’ll also understand the challenges when moving between small and large libraries. If you experience impostor Syndrome, this chapter has guidance to identify and manage those feelings. Advice for finding support and building confidence is also provided. The chapter concludes with questions for reflection.
