What happens to Good Librarians in Bad Libraries?
I wanted to provide some tips and hope for librarians working on programs or library events who have little or no support.

Don't give up.

If you have ideas that have been shot down, altered, stolen, compromised, Co-opted or laughed at; save them. There is no such thing as wasted effort. What fails today, may find a home tomorrow. Many administrations change drastically. The library flavor of the month maybe the gem you have in your notebook...eventually.

If it is a really great idea, take it to another agency. You can volunteer to do it for another agency/association on your own time but make a note of that with your supervisor for review time. You can still get credit for something doing it as an outreach event, particulary if the association/agency specifically requests you. Always talk about your ideas to others. It helps them find a home. It never hurts to read a few good books on networking and sales even as a librarian.

What if you have a publicity department that doesn't really care to focus their efforts on your community? Cultivate your own media contacts. If you're prohibited from doing your own publicity, drop your story idea informally to a reporter you think has an interest or has written/covered similar activities. Read your local papers, spedicifically the small weekly ones diligently.

Drop notices about your program to relevant associations and groups. This also helps turn your program into an outreach event.

Libraries are like any business or organization. There are good and bad people. Things change. Climates shift. Keep faith in yourself and work every avenue you have to promote library services and resources to the people that need the most.

In this you are always win-win. You can always be a Good Librarian, even in a bad place.