Job Posting Thoughts

I just sent out postings to several listservs and put a notice on our web page about a job opening for the Coordinator of Adult Services here at the Library.  The current head is retiring after being here for over 25 years.  She’s a good friend of mine, and with her departure I’ll become the senior functioning librarian on the staff in terms of years here.  (This doesn’t count administration.)  Several friends and co-workers have asked me if I intend to apply for this vacancy.  I certainly have the qualifications and knowledge to do a good job in this position.  Then reality hits and I come to the conclusion that I’m simply too old to compete when I’m already old enough to draw early Social Security.  Would I have filled out an application ten years ago – certainly.  Even five years ago I might have considered it.  Now it seems foolhardy.  I can’t tell you how sad it makes me to openly acknowledge  that there are challenges I can’t accept and jobs I can no longer hope to obtain.  What remains is being the very best, up-to-date electronic resources librarian that I can be.  There are still productive years left in my career.  I still want to leave a mark on my profession, no matter how small.  But today, I know that I’ll never take over the office of my retiring friend.