Change is an inevitable, if uncomfortable, part of library life. Whether it’s a staffing shift, program pivot, budget redistribution, or full-blown reorganization, change disrupts our rhythms. While we can’t stop those changes, we can choose our response. Over time (and with plenty of practice), I’ve built a small but sturdy self-care shelf. These tools help me manage change with more grace and less burnout. I still struggle with change, but returning to this shelf keeps me grounded. As ALSC heads into a season of transition, I want to share five items from my shelf. Perhaps they’ll help you, too.
Grab the tissues and feel your feelings.
No matter how you define change, words like alter, modify, replace, or substitute tend to be forefront. That shift often brings a sense of loss. We’re full of complicated, often conflicting emotions. Further, we fail to acknowledge our emotional labor. Change brings these emotions to the fore. Grab the tissues, because you’ll need them.
You can’t avoid feelings. (Believe me, I’ve tried.) Instead, give yourself permission to feel them, whatever they are. Set aside a specific amount of time, so the rush feels more manageable. Remember, your feelings are valid. You don’t owe any explanations or justifications for them. However, you should name and own those feelings. Then, turn to your coping strategies. Make time to grieve the loss. Have space for rage and anger. Make space for joy, too, even when it feels complicated. Let your emotions work for you and serve as signposts for next steps. Then, think about how you’ll use them moving forward.
Bottom line: You can’t process what you won’t let yourself feel. Grab your tissues, take a breath, and let yourself sit in that swirl of feelings for a while.
Find your sticky notes and add objectivity.
Once the emotional swirl settles, it’s time to shift into planning mode. Feelings give some clues, but we must balance them with facts. That’s where sticky notes come in. Whether you instigate changes or go along for the ride, there are questions: What happens next? How will the change unfold? How will it impact your day-to-day work? Use those sticky notes to distill these into manageable parts.
First, consider facts you know about the change, listing what you know and organizing that information. Then, list what you don’t know or understand. Find ways to answer those questions. Now that you’ve had some time unpacking your feelings, bring your analytical brain back online. What numbers, data, or even anecdotes support this change? Your feelings are valid, but they don’t always tell the truth. Objective data sharpens your perspective. Use categories or groups to enhance your focus; in addition, timelines and the flow of tasks naturally organize around specific action steps.
Bottom line: You can’t move forward without a plan. Pull out your sticky notes to zoom out and sort through the swirl. Then, arrange a more objective view moving forward.
Open your calendar and manage expectations.
With a clear roadmap in place, your next step is adjusting your pace. Any successful plan needs to fit within the limits of your time, energy, and capacity. Change throws your world into a state of disarray. That’s where your calendar comes in. During times of change, we often find ourselves with less capacity, both physically and emotionally. Create your plans in pencil so you can adjust them as you go.
Now it’s time to manage your expectations and think critically about your work. Divide this into two categories: things you can control, and things you can’t control. Recognize the elements you can’t control, but don’t let them dominate your plans. Instead, focus on making plans that work within the elements you can control. Identify your timelines, your deadlines, and your spheres of influence. Allow yourself more time for some of the work, if you need it. Permit yourself to do less. Give yourself grace.
Bottom line: Change throws our lives out of whack and sometimes sabotages timelines. Revisit your calendar and be honest about what’s realistic for you today. Pencil plans are the best plans.
Write with your favorite pen and prioritize yourself.
Even the best schedule won’t help if you don’t include your own needs. Change tries to take over, but it’s time to write yourself back into the story. During this season, it’s okay to be a little selfish. Think about what you need to feel safe, supported, and okay during this time. The more honest you are about your needs, the easier it is to work them into your process.
Whether it’s blocking uninterrupted time for work or limiting conversations, create the space you need. Boundaries work best when you practice them before you need them, so take some time to think about the words you’ll say and the lines you’ll draw. Then, be gentle but firm in enforcing those. It’s also important to focus on the positives where you can. Lingering on what-ifs or should-haves can hinder your process. Instead, think about the good. What new services, impacts, or ideas can result? Reframing may take some time, and that’s okay. It’s still worth the effort.
Bottom line: You can show up best for others when you’ve prioritized yourself first. Make time for what you need, even if you have to write it down to remember.
Flip through your weeding manual and learn to let go.
Once you’ve separated feelings and emotions, clarified your capacity limits, and claimed your space, it’s time to let go of things no longer helpful. Just like a weeding manual helps you decide what to keep and discard for a robust collection, this is your space to make critical decisions about what to keep and what to let go. Regardless of your feelings, it’s time to accept this change.
You owe it to yourself and your library to reflect honestly on your role in the change. Are you all in, all out, or navigating a middle space with intention? Leaving may be the best option if the change compromises your core values. If so, own and communicate your decision without letting negativity impact others. If you believe in the change, believe wholeheartedly. Focus on the good, what you can contribute, and move forward. If you find yourself in a middle ground without the flexibility of walking away, lean into intention. Do your best to protect your integrity, whether by distancing yourself from the active work, supporting the organization in another way, or focusing on next steps for your exit strategy.
Bottom line: Letting go isn’t about quitting, giving up, or giving in. You’re choosing what gets priority shelf space in your life.
Go confidently!
Whatever changes you, your library, or ALSC faces in the coming months, I hope the items on your self-care shelf remain within easy reach. For more tools to add, check out this post on radicalizing self-care in librarianship or my previous post on personalized self-care tips. I’d love to hear what’s on your shelf, too. What tools or mindsets help you navigate change? Please share your tips below, and let’s build a library of support together.
This post addresses ALSC Core Competency #6: Administrative and Management Skills and #7: Professionalism and Professional Development. All photos provided by Jaime Eastman, ALSC member.
Jaime Eastman is a senior Public Services Librarian and Early Learning Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. Jaime is also working on at least two ambitious cross-stitch projects, dreaming of future travel plans, and reading far too many books. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be an author. Writing for the blog and publishing with Children and Libraries feels like a good start, and she regrets nothing about her adult decision to be a librarian doing storytimes, who didn’t have to grow up too much.
Uma Nori
Jaime, wonderfully written. I loved how you compared the weeding process to reflect honestly on your role in the change.