Working in libraries means holding a lot. You're supporting patrons with diverse needs, managing competing demands, navigating interruptions, and showing up with patience and care, even when the day feels overwhelming.
In this interactive session, participants will explore what overwhelm actually is, how it shows up in the body and mind, and why it can be so hard to stay grounded in high-demand moments. Rather than pushing through or shutting down, we’ll focus on practical ways to notice overwhelm earlier and respond with intention.
Through reflection and simple, in-the-moment strategies, participants will build awareness of their personal stress signals and learn how to reset without stepping away from their responsibilities. Because in environments where everything is happening at once, the ability to steady yourself isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
Certified Coach and Facilitator. Certified in many emotional intelligence modalities. 25+ years working with youth and youth organizations., The Flourish Lab
Do you or other leaders at your library feel like you are always on call to handle every emergency or crisis? From handling staff callouts to plumbing emergencies to problem patrons, this presentation will help you recognize the importance of training future leaders in your library to have a full rotation of Library Persons-In-Charge (PICs). We will discuss main PIC expectations, PIC vs Supervisor responsibilities, the training process, and much more. By the end, you will have scalable training using adult learning principles and instructional design that will empower your staff and improve your organizational effectiveness. The PIC training template includes examples of a half-day in-person course, two weeks of shadowing, 50 hours of primary responsibility, and a meeting schedule for regular check-ins.
Library Operations Manager, successfully created a training plan that involves over 70 training hours, has implemented with staff 12 times., Englewood Public Library
Teens often find belonging through subcultures that adults may not immediately understand. Whether Therians, fandom communities, fans of music or any number of identity and affinity based groups, librarians who don't understand them are missing a great opportunity to connect with and build communities with them.
This session will introduce therianthropy and other current teen subcultures and explore why these identities resonate with teens. Participants will also gain practical tools and tips on how to figure out what subcultures you should be programming for as well as tips on how to run both large and small programs for these groups. We will also be looking at how to handle pushback from patrons and administration to ensure you're prepared for when you may encounter misunderstanding.
By looking at what we've been doing at Aurora Public Library, attendees will learn how to design welcoming spaces that affirm diverse identities while aligning with library values while helping every teen feel seen, safe, and at home in the library.
Cody (he/him) is the Teen Services Librarian at Central Library where he has been for 2.5 years. In addition to more traditional programming, he is passionate about making the library an inclusive and welcoming space for all the teens in Aurora regardless of their identity or bac... Read More →
