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Abstract: Using Audio Diaries to Collect Stories of Library Worker Identities and Routine Work
Library careers are rewarding, but any workplace can be a “nexus point for social oppression” (Blustein, 2008). Particularly in a profession as homogeneous as public librarianship, work routines can pose barriers to workers with marginalized identities. To understand routines and the affordances, disaffordances, and workarounds encountered and used by library workers, we used a combination of audio diaries and interviews.
Diary methods allow research participants to record their experiences and thoughts close to the event, allowing a “life as it is lived” perspective (Bolger, Davis, & Rafaeli, 2003). Diaries allow participants to speak candidly about their experiences without a researcher present. Since the researchers represent normative identities, our absence during audio diary recording provided a layer of safety for participants who represent several non-normative identities. Audio diaries also remove the need for participants to compose written entries. Using participants’ own cell phones, audio diaries allow greater flexibility and ease of use than in the past when tape recorder technology might have posed a barrier.
Participants were asked to record five audio diaries over five different work days. They recorded an entry following an experience where a work routine made them feel frustrated, stuck, uncomfortable, or annoyed. Prompts for participants asked them to talk about the routine, what barrier they encountered that caused frustration, and how they dealt with the issue in the moment. Participants were also asked to tell whether/how their identity played a role in the situation, others’ expectations of them, and how they resolved issues encountered. Finally, they shared their feelings about the situation, actions, and outcomes.
During a follow-up interview we unpacked the intersection of identity and work routines with participants. We also asked participants about their experiences in the study, including what went well and did not go well, to learn more about these methods and the extent to which they elicit valid and rich data about library work. We found that when asked about their experience participating in the study, many participants expressed an appreciation for the opportunity to process unpleasant work experiences verbally. Most participants said the diaries were an accurate depiction of their life at work. Some participants admitted that it was difficult to make time to record diaries. Some participants shared that they had difficulty deciding what to record, because they prefer not to dwell on negative experiences and have grown accustomed to moving past small annoyances at work quickly. Other participants were more distressed by the routines they described and were less able to stop ruminating. Some staff attempted to change problematic routines, while others tried to avoid them. Coping strategies may help staff to deal with frustrating but unavoidable routines but may not be sufficient for all staff or all situations. While customer service requires a certain level of resiliency, the data suggests library workers need to be able to end repeated exposure to negative routine work experiences. Even staff with a positive outlook could be internalizing more stress than what should be required of library workers.
Diary methods allow research participants to record their experiences and thoughts close to the event, allowing a “life as it is lived” perspective (Bolger, Davis, & Rafaeli, 2003). Diaries allow participants to speak candidly about their experiences without a researcher present. Since the researchers represent normative identities, our absence during audio diary recording provided a layer of safety for participants who represent several non-normative identities. Audio diaries also remove the need for participants to compose written entries. Using participants’ own cell phones, audio diaries allow greater flexibility and ease of use than in the past when tape recorder technology might have posed a barrier.
Participants were asked to record five audio diaries over five different work days. They recorded an entry following an experience where a work routine made them feel frustrated, stuck, uncomfortable, or annoyed. Prompts for participants asked them to talk about the routine, what barrier they encountered that caused frustration, and how they dealt with the issue in the moment. Participants were also asked to tell whether/how their identity played a role in the situation, others’ expectations of them, and how they resolved issues encountered. Finally, they shared their feelings about the situation, actions, and outcomes.
During a follow-up interview we unpacked the intersection of identity and work routines with participants. We also asked participants about their experiences in the study, including what went well and did not go well, to learn more about these methods and the extent to which they elicit valid and rich data about library work. We found that when asked about their experience participating in the study, many participants expressed an appreciation for the opportunity to process unpleasant work experiences verbally. Most participants said the diaries were an accurate depiction of their life at work. Some participants admitted that it was difficult to make time to record diaries. Some participants shared that they had difficulty deciding what to record, because they prefer not to dwell on negative experiences and have grown accustomed to moving past small annoyances at work quickly. Other participants were more distressed by the routines they described and were less able to stop ruminating. Some staff attempted to change problematic routines, while others tried to avoid them. Coping strategies may help staff to deal with frustrating but unavoidable routines but may not be sufficient for all staff or all situations. While customer service requires a certain level of resiliency, the data suggests library workers need to be able to end repeated exposure to negative routine work experiences. Even staff with a positive outlook could be internalizing more stress than what should be required of library workers.