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| Image by Elisa from Pixabay |
Don't be discouraged though. You've got this! A recent ALSC blog post written by members of ALSC's (ALA's Association for Library Service to Children) Public and Awareness share some great tips on how to cope with part 2 of a busy summer.
Read their helpful hint here. [In a SRP Slump? YOU CAN DO THIS! ALSC Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee. ALSC blog. June 30, 2023]
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| Image by Artturi Mäntysaari from Pixabay |
Amy Koester, ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)'s President, has some warm and wise words to help you recognize and celebrate small and large wins that can help you cope with challenging times and situations.
You can read her post here. [Celebrating Library Wins - Even Times Are Tough. Koester, Amy. ALSC blog. May 2, 2023.]
REGISTER HERE for this free webinar
Tuesday, February 21, 1-2 pm
There's a lot to consider when we are planning teen and tween programming. In this presentation you will learn about using connected learning principals and co-designing to develop programs with teen patrons. We'll learn the difference between partnerships and supporters, and how to identify them using community asset mapping. Create successful teen programs without burnout!
Presenter: Kymberlee Powe from the Connecticut State Library has been working in libraries for over fourteen years and specializes in youth services. Kym has given presentations and participated in panel conversations at
various conferences, which
include the Connected Learning Summit, Niche
Academy, and School Library
Journal/ Library Journal.
This webinar
will be recorded and captioned. It will provide 1 contact hour for public
library
director certification
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| Pixabay Image |
She writes:
"You know, if there was any good to come from this terrible pandemic, I would have thought it would have gotten us as a profession to kick this ridiculous sense of vocational awe to the curb. You know, the idea that libraries are sacred and that librarianship is a virtuous calling we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for. The pervasive feeling that we have to be all things to all people, fill all the cracks in society that people inevitably slip through, give of ourselves until it hurts. I think this idea is the most pervasive in the area of youth services.
Vocational awe leads to mission creep, overworking, understaffing, and people that are underemployed and/or underpaid. Library staff resort to buying program supplies with their own money, working unpaid hours, often struggle to live on wages that are below the cost of living, and burn ourselves out in just a few short years by offering a myriad of programs, pushing for bigger and bigger, more and more... And if you aren't willing to make all these sacrifices, if you can't be all things to all people, aren't a "rock star librarian" (whatever the hell that even means), then you simply aren't dedicated enough, passionate enough, or innovative enough."
To read the entire post, stop here. [Can We PLEASE Stop with the Vocational Awe Already. Sullivan, Jennifer. Adventures in Storytime (and Beyond). June 18, 2022.]
Meredith Farkas is an academic librarian, writer, teacher, speaker, columnist, and mover and shaker. She has spent the last few years reflecting on her once driven professional life and aspirations for herself. Finding time for work, home life and family and professional obligations tugged at her and left little time for self-care or slowing down.
Image by Oldiefan from Pixabay
In her most recent blog post on her Information Wants to Be Free blog, she thoughtfully explores how this re-examination of her commitment and priorities has only become more stark during the pandemic. She is discovering answers that suggest a new organizational philosophy that shows a way forward to many of who feel stressed and overworked.
She writes: "For the past couple of years, I’ve been thinking about something I call slow librarianship. It was in response to the realizations I had about my workaholism and the ideas I explored around ambition, striving, productivity, self-optimization, and achievement culture on this blog two years ago. It felt like the answer to all this was to slow down, to notice and reflect, to focus more on being true to our values than innovating, to build relationships, to really listen (to our communities our colleagues, and ourselves), and to be in solidarity with others."
Farkas goes on: "Slow librarianship is an antiracist, responsive, and values-driven practice that stands in opposition to neoliberal values. Workers in slow libraries are focused on relationship-building, deeply understanding and meeting patron needs, and providing equitable services to their communities. Internally, slow library culture is focused on learning and reflection, collaboration and solidarity, valuing all kinds of contributions, and supporting staff as whole people. Slow librarianship is a process, not a destination; it is an orientation towards our work, ourselves, and others that creates positive change. It is an organizational philosophy that supports workers and builds stronger relationships with our communities."
To read this thoughtful article that speaks to many of us in librarianship who are feeling burned out, please stop here.
Dear Library Staff Serving Youth,
Happy Friday! Here is the latest installment of Friday FAQs for Youth Services. The slides used in the recording are attached as a PDF. Also, the FAQ Friday form is open for your input through the end of the year.
FAQ Friday 12/11/2020 recording (7:22) https://youtu.be/mWAcL33fyAQ
FAQ Friday form https://docs.google.com/forms/
For FAQ archives, visit the Youth Services Section blog
Resources related to this week’s topics
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/
Sending warmth and peace in your direction,
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Consultant – Youth Services and Inclusive Services
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries and Technology
(608) 267-5077
Friday FAQs with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Dear Library Staff Serving Youth,
Happy Friday! Here is the latest installment of Friday FAQs for Youth Services. The slides used in the recording are attached as a PDF. Also, the FAQ Friday form is open for your input on the next episode as well as ideas for 2021. FAQ Fridays are published on the second Friday of each month; the next one comes out on Friday, December 11, 2020.
FAQ Friday 11/13/2020 recording (5:57) https://youtu.be/IYloNFHUZ7c
For FAQ archives, visit the Youth Services Section blog
Resources related to this week’s topics
Executive Order #94
https://content.govdelivery.
Compassion Resilience Webinar
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 from 1:00-2:00pm
https://dpi.wi.gov/
TeachingBooks chrome extension
TeachingBooks.net/
-->Related blog post from School Library Journal http://blogs.slj.com/
Read Woke Booklists from Galesville Public Library, courtesy Wina Mortenson https://drive.google.com/
With gratitude,
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Consultant – Youth Services and Inclusive Services
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries and Technology
(608) 267-5077
Friday FAQs with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Mindfulness and guided meditations can be a part of self-care and centering as we nourish ourselves or share resources with others in our professional or personal lives. The folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have developed a series of guided mindfulness MeditOcean videos that can be used for free.
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| Abby Johnson. Photo from ALSC blog |
Re-Opening Issues YSS blog COVID-19 series:
WI
Library Reopening Guide Addendum 4/6/21
The Mask Ask –
Strategies for Cooperation 11/15/20
You Are not Alone
– Coping with Your New Library Life 9/19/20
Decisions,
Decisions – Thinking About Fall, School and Your Library 8/5/20
Back to School
Considerations and Tips for Libraries 8/15/20
We’re Re-opening –
You’ve Got This! 7/15/20
We’re Re-opening –
Should We Do In-Person Programming This Fall? 7/9/20
We’re Re-opening –
Wisconsin Public Libraries Reopening Guide 6/4/20
We’re Re-opening –
Coping with Reluctant Patrons and Programming 6/3/20
We’re Re-Opening – Cleaning and Disinfecting Youth Areas 5/13/20
COVID-19 and Libraries: Your Questions Answered with Dr. Dipesh Navsaria (webinar) 5/19/20
The Healthy Minds Program app is a free well-being tool for Apple or Android users from the folks who brought us the Kindness Curriculum.
The Healthy Minds Program App was developed by Healthy Minds Innovations, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison.
Dear Library Staff Serving Youth,
Happy Friday! Here is the latest installment of Friday FAQs for Youth Services. The slides used in the recording are attached as a PDF. Also, the FAQ Friday form is open for your input on the next episode. FAQ Fridays are published on the second Friday of each month; the next one comes out on Friday, October 9, 2020.
FAQ Friday 9/11/2020 recording (7:06) https://youtu.be/X5n3EnJuxZI
FAQ Friday form https://docs.google.com/forms/
For FAQ archives, visit the Youth Services Section blog
Resources related to this week’s topics
Resource list compiled by System Staff and the Division for Libraries and Technology (DPI)
Stages of Compassion and Fatigue PDF and video from the Compassion Resilience Toolkit
Ambiguous Loss from The Cardigan newsletter in the September 2020 issue
Puppy Pen Pals at the Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains
Stretchly app
Have a warm and cozy weekend,
Public Library Consultant – Youth Services and Inclusive Services
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries and Technology
(608) 267-5077
Friday FAQs with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
