Between Graduation and a Brick Wall: Burnout and Mental Illness in New Librarians

Abstract

New librarians begin work fresh out of graduate school and can often be unprepared for the emotional labor that the profession requires. Because of this, burnout has become common amongst those new to the field, causing both professional and personal difficulties. Similarly, a significant percentage of the population lives with mental illnesses which can affect any and every part of their life. This article reviews the correlation between new librarianship, burnout, and mental illness, and studies opinions and feelings from new librarians currently experiencing these difficulties.