Wage watchers: how much does a librarian earn?

Librarian Katia De Pooter, 35, from Bornem talks about what she earns and how she spends it.

What do you do for a living?

I work at the local public library, where I’m in charge of children’s books and everything youth-related. So I organise visits from school groups, I’m also responsible for our collection of children’s books and I come up with activities for Youth Book Week.

Do you enjoy your job?

Very much so. I’ve been interested in children’s books for a long time and it’s great to be able to work in this sector. And then there are all the activities, which I love organising. Of course there are downsides, too, such as dealing with difficult customers.

What do you think of your salary?

I’m certainly happy with what I earn. I worked in the social sector before, and I earned less then. I take home €1,700 a month, plus meal tickets, hospital insurance and extra holidays. I find that a nice wage.

Would you choose another occupation if the money was better?

No. I really like this job. Besides, I live about 100m from the library. Another job would mean commuting. It’s just nice for me to work in my own commune.

Do you save?

Both my husband and I have full-time jobs, so we are able to save, yes. How much we save varies from one month to another.

What does the biggest part of your salary go towards?

We have a mortgage to pay, but our biggest expense is food and drink.

What do you gladly pay good money for?

Travelling is one of my hobbies. I just love to go to places and see as much as possible, so that’s something I’ll happily pay for.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

We do play the lottery from time to time, and we sometimes daydream about what we’d do if we won the jackpot, then we start making wild plans. But if we did win, we’d sit down and think long and hard about what to do with the money. I would like to keep busy and do some of my work or some volunteer work.

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