It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

It's hard sometimes to cut ourselves a little slack. We want everything to to be just right in our programs, services and spaces. In two recent ALCS blog post, Mary Fellows and Jaime Eastman help us take a deep breath to put things in perspective and manage our time wisely.

Mary writes: "Do you nurture your work self by experimenting with new ways to meet the library’s mission? Are you known for your clever new programs? If so, like most youth services folks, you’re an idea person. We like variety. We stay current on kid trends. We keep it fresh.  There’s a downside to being an idea person, though: the alluring possibilities always exceed the time to try them. “There are never enough hours to get everything done,” we might bemoan to coworkers. We feel caught between what we need to do – like scheduling – and what we want to do: projects that move the library closer to our youth services vision. This dissonance may cause us to feel perpetually behind. Or to struggle with uncertainty about whether we’re doing the “right” things. Each diminishes our energy and equilibrium, and affects our job satisfaction. What’s to be done?"

For her bravura suggestions on learning to accept less than perfect, stop here. [Time Management: Practice Strategic Underachievement. Fellows, Mary. ALSC blog. March 21, 2024.]

Jamie writes: "It’s hard for me to admit, but perfection isn’t realistic or attainable. Library work requires our passion. We love connecting patrons with resources, sparking a lifelong love of reading, or supporting community needs. We feel strongly that we can, should, and will make an impact. When reality doesn’t match our expectations, we feel like failures. Spoiler alert: perfect isn’t necessary for success. Putting your imperfect heart in your work means you make an impact. And when you’re willing to learn and do better, you’re making progress."

For all her tips and supportive ideas, stop here. [Progress Over Perfection: Embracing Imperfection in Library Work. Eastman, Jaime. ALSC blog. January 26, 2024.]