Montclair Library

I’m not too pleased with how this library has turned out. I used to volunteer here all the time when I was a teenager but as the years went by things changed, this place is not very friendly, I just always felt uncomfortable. Overall, I was unhappy so I stopped coming and I honestly haven’t set foot in this library in years so I know this review seems unfair.
However, I have yet to see any improvement in the library because every time I drive by there it’s completely empty, I hardly see any people around and I’m not seeing the library doing any community events; I’m not hearing of the library doing pretty much any events and that’s just sad — the Montclair library is not active in Montclair city. If I do see any kind of improvement or changes in the library I will most certainly update this review but so far I just haven’t seen any of that.

I’m sad no one has reviewed this library. Employees are great. Management and Administration, terrible. Yeah, I guess I am biased. I used to work here and my last year there was the most terrible time I’ve ever had. They left a bitter wound BUT it was a learning experience. After quitting, my life turned around. I went back to school and I’m well on my way to getting my BA. Something I could have never done working here, because they don’t allow any flexibility whatsoever (I’m not joking. Even if there is coverage, they will not allow you to switch AT ALL for any reason.) Which I find very hypocritical of administration. How are they supposed to have well rounded and educated employees if they themselves don’t allow them to grow? Just keep in mind that if you complain about the wifi, the computers, the service, it’s not the employees working the circ or reference desk’s fault. They’re under a lot of ridiculous pressure and deal with incredible BS from administration and management. Montclair is part of the San Bernardino County system and believe me, each and every single library in the county is dealing with the same BS. The summer before I left there were countless of managers who retired or quit, unexpectedly. They knew what was coming. The county libraries have a high turnover rate. It just makes me feel like they were purging all the old employees and replacing them with fresh and young new talent but more like minions who will do anything to please administration and Leonard Hernandez, the head honcho. I had heard so many wonderful things about the guy in charge before him but once Leonard stepped in, everything went to hell. Well, morale wise. They hire people who have never worked at a library nor have any degree applicable to the skills required here. They hire them for positions that need those qualifications. I worked with pages who had their Masters. Masters! They were getting paid 8.79 while new assistants made $ 12 and might have had a BA but had 0 library experience. As a page, I had to tell them how to work the system and the ins and outs of a library. They had training before but it probably wasn’t adequate. It wasn’t their fault though, a job is a job. I blame administration solely. I don’t care that I went back to retail. At least where I work at now they treat me with dignity, respect, they listen and they recognize the talent and potential of their employees. Unlike the County Library. They would rather stay stagnant and not care about employees nor patrons. Administration doesn’t realize that all these «accountability» rules and harsh enforcement of workplace structure hurts the morale of the workplace and creates an air of dissent AND it will get reflected on the service. We’re still human and if we’re dealing with the craziness of administration, our service and commitment to our community will suffer. It’s just human nature. Libraries should be a place of creativity, ideas, philosophy and service but the county doesn’t care about any of that. I wish more people knew what was really going on here, it makes me genuinely sad. I just think changes can and should be made, just not at the cost of your employees or community.