Librarians and Paramedics: An Exploration of Pain Points in Front-Line Public Service Work

Public libraries and paramedic services are both frontline organizations that support communities and are frequently the last or only option for people in crisis. This paper investigated the mutual challenges faced by both librarians and paramedics along their career journeys to identify areas where innovation is needed to promote higher job satisfaction and less burnout in public-facing professions. Using primary and secondary research, including individual interviews and a combined focus group, researchers were able to uncover several possibilities for further research and innovation, including education, on-the-job support, and more autonomy in daily operations.