What are restorative practices and how can they help our libraries create dialog, trust, and growth? On this show Stephen Jackson, Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at Oak Park Public Library in Illinois, talks about creating peace circles in libraries where people can share perspectives in safe environments that develop relationships and heal trauma.
Tag: Library Leadership Page 1 of 2
How do we engage in work that is intentional and makes the best use of our limited time and energy? On this show Rebekah Cummings, Digital Matters Interim Director at the University of Utah Marriott Library, talks about Selecting Your Yes with Intention in order to do good things in our communities while also taking care of ourselves and engaging in work that best utilizes our capacities.
What knowledge do library directors need to be effective? On this show Michele Stricker, Deputy State Librarian of Library Development in New Jersey, shares the essentials of library director training developed through her agency to provide effective leadership support in her state. She talks about the essentials that library directors need to know in managing staff, working with boards, influencing elected officials, working with communities, and more.
What do you do when you apply for a position and don’t get it? On this show Sarah O’Shea, Head of Youth Services at the Tompkins Public Library in New York, shares how though this can feel like a set-back there are ways to move forward that allow for self-care, regrouping, and coming back with new focus and strength.
How do we plan for the unplanned? Before recent occurrences, this question may have felt less urgent. But now, it’s clear that life is coming at us fast and that it helps to be as prepared as we possibly can. On this show, I speak with Miriam Kahn, MLS, MA, PhD, author of Disaster Response and Planning for Libraries.
She shares ways to implement planning even if we don’t know what’s coming around the corner. Miram Kahn on Disaster Recovery and Resumption in the wake of COVID-19: https://lucidea.com/blog/phasing-back-into-the-physical-special-library-workplace/
Does library advocacy feel more important than ever to you right now? On this show, I speak with Beth Nawalinski, Executive Director of United for Libraries a division of the American Library Association. She shares that now is always the time for advocacy.
There is a certain sense of urgency as we work to recover from the pandemic. Working with trustees, foundations, and Friends groups can provide essential support in the current environment. Beth provides intentionality and tools to help all of us work together to help our libraries.
United for Libraries Website: Link
Are you wondering how you can navigate quickly shifting realities and expectations during the Coronavirus Pandemic? On this show I talk with Candice Benjes-Small, Head of Research Services at William & Mary Libraries in Williamsburg, Virginia.
When her university moved her team to remote work, she realized she’d need new strategies to support her colleagues in this time of crisis. The thoughts she shares in this conversation are valuable as we all face the struggles of managing in these unprecedented times.
We all have people in our organizations who we want to support and help grow. But, what is the best way to do this? On today’s show, I talk with Dr. Melissa Cast-Brede, Associate Professor, and Erica Rose, Library Science Faculty and Program Coordinator, at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
They share with us a process of appreciative inquiry that allows us, in libraries, to throw out models of deficit thinking and embrace positivity in working with others. We can all benefit by creating an affirming cycle of inquiry to support those around us. You won’t want to miss this information to help set the groundwork to support teams and possibly even develop some of our best leaders from within.
Have you ever been asked to step up to the plate and show leadership in an unexpected way in your library? Barb Brattin, Director of the Kenosha Public Library in Wisconsin, was and hit it out of the park, both literally and figuratively.
In 2018, her library won the “Power of Libraries Award” from SirsiDynix for important work that involved a broad city initiative to end violence in city parks by making them places where positive activities engaged the community.
It’s a huge success story involving many partners and headed up by a library that was willing to take on the challenge of connecting people and resources for dynamic results.
So, here’s an interesting question. If a population is underserved, and possibly not even coming into the library in the first place, how do we serve them? Or, maybe they are coming in and we are not quite sure how to best meet their needs.
There are always opportunities to ask unique populations what is most important to them and then work to break down barriers in order to serve people well. On today’s show, I talk Dr. Bobbie Bushman, Assistant Professor at the Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management.
She has a strong background in serving populations such as the deaf community, incarcerated individuals, children with disabilities, homeschoolers, and homeless individuals. She shares the importance of serving underserved populations and provides ways that we all can initiate this focus, which ultimately benefits the whole community.
Links:
- The referenced Emporia video: https://video.emporia.edu/
- Lucky Ones Coffee: Link
- The Blackbelt Librarian: Link