Out of curiosity, how did they present this information? Did they say the job is going to pay 38 and that’s the end of that discussion? Or did you ask if it’s negotiable and they responded that it is not? Do they know what you make now?
The interview was structured like, tour, interview with the current staff, lunch, and then meeting back with just the director where she presented the sort of HR stuff - benefits, etc. So she started that portion off by flatly saying. “Okay. So, unfortunately, we don’t pay well.” and named the 38K figure. I did all the stuff I read - repeated the number, let it sit in silence for a bit, said 'I’m really excited about the job but I assumed it would pay something closer to my current salary…" and asked if there’s any room for negotiation but she said no, and I do believe her.
My current salary wasn’t on the application, and I don’t make quiiiiite enough to be on the state salary disclosure database, but she could very easily find out that starting professionals at my current job make something like 36. She didn’t ask what I make now and I didn’t tell her.
I did forget to ask about raises. If I get the offer I will certainly ask for some time to think about it and ask about raises and evaluations.
Unfortunately, interviewing for a job when you’re frustrated and furious at your current job DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR OUTLOOK. Crap happening at work today has revealed that I am insanely brittle right now. Ugh.
Take the job. Trust me.
Well, I might very well not get it! I’m sure all the other candidates are strong - believe me, the bench of librarians even just trying to leave my current workplace is deep as hell.
Sounds like an entry level job, which would explain the low salary and lack of flexibility in negotiation. Something maybe worth considering, taking the big salary cut could impact your ability to negotiate your *next *salary, too. That said, if your current job is that bad, you may value your sanity more than the extra money in your pocket.
Yes and no - it doesn’t really work that way in librarianship. Most librarians live and die essentially in “entry level” jobs unless they want to go into management.
Is that an option anytime in the future? Or even something you would want or would make a difference in the tolerability* of where you are now?
Sorry to hear about your pooch. Was he getting on in age? I seem to recall you getting him after your cats, but I’ve been here so damn long I can’t remember if that was three years ago or ten.
- Not sure that is a word, but it should be.
So then, why does your current jobfromhell pay so much more than this job? 
Is this the only possible alternative to your current job? Why not look for a different job more comparable to the one you currently have but without the “things [you] find personally and professionally repugnant”?
Public versus academic, mostly. And many years of raises, but not position changes.
Tamerlane, we did get him after the cats but he was a used dog then, he was about 12 when we had to put him down.
Fotheringay-Phipps, believe me I HAVE BEEN TRYING. I’ve been applying steadily for years. Of course, I’d like to move into academic and this would be a way in. The thing about public libraries is that there aren’t a ton of alternatives - there are two major systems locally and I’m lucky there are two.
Ah, gotcha. 12 isn’t that bad for a big dog, but it always sucks regardless.
It really sounds like the academic position might be worth risking the financial hit as long as you can think you can scrape by. I’m recalling you haven’t been happy at your current place for quite awhile. So cross the fingers I suppose - nice/bad things about bureaucracies ( including academic ones ) is they often churn slowly, so maybe they’ll take there time picking you and you can get confirmation on the hubby’s position.
But it really does come down to could you scrape by on this income for potentially an extended period in a worst case scenario. Debt can be lived with if it isn’t of the crippling sort and you have enough to continue to pay it down, even if only minimally. But if it is simply not feasible anyway you run the numbers, I suppose that is that.
I looked into consolidation loans and found the interest to be shockingly usurious, so I’m going to go down to my credit union and just see what my options are to do anything to lower our monthly payments, see what the absolute lowest we could scrape by a month is.
Then again, I probably won’t get the stupid job anyway.
I didn’t get it. 
Ah sorry, that sucks :(.
Sorry.
Now sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to figure out exactly what you expect from your next position. Accepting a pay cut as a stepping stone might be fine if you can take classes for free towards a graduate degree. Or if you can negotiate higher contributions toward your insurance or your 401k. Some of the benefits may be tax free. This may not have been the job for you, but the interview experience is worthwhile, along with the moment for you to figure out what works for you -financially, professionally, etc. Even things like a good university daycare or laboratory school may be worth a modest hit on your income, in your current situation? (Says the woman who paid about 10% more for a home than I might have paid across the river in another county. The Boy is taking college classes now, at no cost to me except his transportation. The Girl is a rising sophomore, and will have 5 hours of college credit at the end of the year. We could have saved 20% on our land in another county, and maybe saved 10% on our property taxes, but we have already saved the cost of one year of college at a good state university. And we love our little town, because we enjoy the benefits of a major university and of a small town. And South Carolina has similar communities and benefits.)
Well, I’m going to contact the manager and ask if she has any advice or suggestions for me. Can’t hurt.
Oh and we found out today my husband didn’t get HIS job either. At least the tornado we were under a watch for didn’t show up? (Yet?)