Pros
Decent pay and benefits Extensive and impressive collection Unbelievably hard working (non-management) staff that wants to offer the public a service that it deserves. It's a shame that staff is NOT valued at all by the administration. Leadership is totally unable or unwilling to improve working conditions and often shows no desire to change. A talented and motivated staff is the backbone of any institution, especially in a public service capacity, but this administration chases talent away and doesn't even show an interest in motivating or empowering staff.
Cons
Toxic culture and complete lack of leadership. This institution is a complete joke and a disservice to the residents of Cleveland. Administration is totally unwilling to listen to suggestions and adapt. This is not a proactive institution, but a reactive and punitive one. For years management has neglected to fill an extremely large number of union positions (the ones that actually help and serve the patrons) to the point of chronic understaffing all while creating new "chief" positions and other administrative jobs. At the time of this review, there are over 100 vacancies. Because of this, staff members are extremely overworked and burnt out by countless responsibilities falling to them, all while the top heavy management poses for photo ops. MANY cases of nepotism and very little opportunities for career advancement and development (unless of course you pledge fealty to their ineptitude). Countless extremely talented staff have left because of this toxic culture and in many cases for lower paying jobs. The complete disconnect between administration and staff is astonishing. So many major decisions are made by people that have neither a library degree nor library experience outside of their marketing or HR positions at CPL. The city of Cleveland deserves better, but administration has not and will never change their draconian ways. Do not apply here unless you wish to have all hope drained away.
