Winter came early here in Ohio, with an early snowfall and snow days, January-like temperatures in November and December so far (5 degrees and 5+ inches of snow as I write.) The Dark is Rising indeed. Is it any wonder that so many celebrations this time of year incorporate light? I am grateful for bright lawn decorations and candles in windows on my dark drives home each night. I love the Winter Solstice as from now on, each day will have more light. What ways do you take comfort or recharge this time of year? Does that sound impossible in a season of busyness? After a year in which just surviving can be considered an achievement? The end of the year is also often the season of evaluations and goal setting for the year to come – how do you do that when you are tired? If you are a supervisor, how do you help others at the same time?
Here are a few ideas, and I’d love for readers to share their favorite ideas too in the comments.
Strategize: Reflect, Celebrate, Sunset
Professionally, it’s the time of year for evaluations (which my staff aren’t crazy about – is anyone?) and goal setting for next year. I try to find ways to praise their efforts, to look for something they have taken the initiative on or excelled at, whether a program or a new procedure. I keep a running spreadsheet throughout the year, though at some busy times I forget to update it, but I’m always glad I did! In December when someone asks “What did you do this year?” it can be hard to reflect all the way back to January! Or even summer, and the blur that is often Summer Reading. For my staffer who says, oh, I just did my usual storytimes, I ran the numbers to show how many programs she did and how many folks attended. Lisa notes that she asks staff what they would like to work on, as having them create their own goals (even if they need a little tweaking) creates buy-in and they are more likely to accomplish them (or at least put in a good effort.)
I also ask for feedback on what didn’t work, no longer works, or was frustrating. Deciding to sunset a program is harder than planning new ones, when the creative juices are flowing and everything is exciting. But it is so necessary to reflect, retool, and/or retire programs as well – for good mental health, maintaining quality of programs, and preventing burnout. If you are always completely maxxed out, then there is no room for growth, responding to trends or incorporating new research, or any time for reflection or helping others.
Immerse yourself in story
For Midwinter, listen to the BBC’s full cast audio adaption of Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising, which first aired in 12 episodes in December 2022, available to download or on Spotify. Or listen to the original. It’s a great listen for families, with school-age children – reading or listening to one chapter a night.
For younger children, a few recent books offer great models of recharging and reconnecting. One of our committee members recommends The Family Tree by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Fiona Lee, which depicts a hurried family whose busy routine is disrupted by a tree growing in their house. They gradually slow down to notice, to wonder, and to care. As they reconnect with nature, they also slow to take root (to read, to do a puzzle, to play an instrument) and to reconnect with each other. To be home.
We Go Slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Aaron Becker, celebrates the wonder in the every day, as a grandfather and granddaughter take a walk, slowly, around their urban neighborhood. They notice with all their senses – what they hear, touch, taste, and smell as well as what they see. Children and their families will hopefully be inspired take a closer look at the world around them.
Is there a story you turn to for comfort or relaxation?
Take Care of Yourself: Looking Ahead, Challenges and Rest
Self-care is the most individual and perhaps the hardest one to achieve. Some folks (both librarians and patrons) love reading challenges. Others focus on physical health, nutrition, and healthy habits. Our library hosts a Winter Reading Challenge for all ages – this year’s is the Hot Chocolate challenge (thinking warm!) Lisa’s library sponsors a Winter Reading Bingo during the heart of the cold Michigan winter. While participants can earn a Bingo by reading, there are many other options to help them explore the library, different genres, and services that they provide like Story phone. This service has a dedicated phone line, and they suggest caregivers can dial in while in the car (traveling or just stuck in traffic!) so kids can listen to a story, or when waiting in a doctors office or to be seated at a restaurant.
For families, I share Ohio’s DaybyDay Family Literacy Calendar, which offers songs, rhymes, book suggestions and activities for each day of the year. Snow day? No problem – here are activities you can do at home. This project is from the State Library of Ohio and Ohio Ready to Read, with support from the IMLS. Your state may have a similar calendar – Virginia’s offers the tips in English and Spanish. Lisa’s library uses PLA’s Early Literacy Calendar which has a cost, but can be customized with library branding.
I’m a huge fan of Jane Goodall, and recently discovered the GoodAllYear calendar – 365 Days of Hope in Action, to inspire daily acts of compassion. For Jane, Hope was not a passive word, but a necessary and deliberate action. So this will frame my year ahead. Alex mentioned arranging and rearranging her bookshelves as a satisfying activity – and I realized I’d been doing this recently too, and agree that it can be an act of self-care. Lisa notes that as managers, we need to practice self-care, leading by example with work/life balance. While it is easy in this connected world to hop on email for a quick moment or text a staff member outside of their working hours, I don’t unless it is an absolute emergency.
As I finished writing, I came across this amazing post from Bobbi L. Newman at Librarian by Day on the 7 types of rest librarians actually need and how to get them. It offers a meaningful framework to think about what we do and options to change and adapt in support of our staff, and each other. I’m planning to share it widely.
Wishing you moments of calm now and in the new year.
Today’s blog post was written by Robin L. Gibson, with contributions from Alexandra Bell, Lisa Mulvenna, Patricia Rua-Bashir, and the Managing Children’s Services Committee. Robin can be reached at rgibson [at] fcdlibrary.org.
This post relates to ALSC Core Competencies VI: Administrative and Management Skills