Trauma happens in public libraries. Let’s find systematic ways to deal with it, and create a culture of healing. In response to 2022 Urban Library Trauma Study.
Author: Liza Purdy
A Perfect Program
We’ve been hearing about and experiencing a lot of trauma in our libraries and in our world. A new report came out from the Urban Libraries Unite that I am ruminating on and plan to write about next month. Library work, the work of serving the community, can be really tough. Sometimes you just need to let loose and plan something that checks off all the boxes of education, literacy, and community outreach goals but is also really fun for you and your staff and good for the soul. May I recommend chickens and bluegrass and caterpillars?
The Right Book in the Right Hand at the Right Time
I am writing this blog post on the night before I return to work from bereavement leave. My dad was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme in late February. I once heard GBM referred to as the “great white shark” of brain cancer because of its relentless rate of growth and spread, and the lack of effective treatment. My parents moved in with my family right after Dad received the diagnosis; we put their house of 53 years on the market, moved their stuff into storage, and buckled up for the wild ride of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy while maintaining our “normal” work, school, church and home duties. Needless to say, it’s been a lot. I don’t know if you all experience this, but when I am particularly stressed out, I sometimes find that I cannot read. I just can’t allow myself to enter into a story. I can’t put my life…
The Nuts and Bolts of Summer Reading 2022
Summer Reading 2022 is nearly here. I keep calling the months of April and May “Tax Season” for Youth Services Library administration. Goodness, it is a whirlwind getting everything set! Here’s what’s coming: We decided to follow iRead’s theme this year, Read Beyond the Beaten Path. We’ve been having a blast with the camp and nature theme! Each of our branches is even getting it’s own mascot!
They’re Back and They’re Excited
Covid numbers are down in Los Angeles County! The mask mandate has been lifted, and life is feeling more akin to pre-Covid days. In the library, storytimes have moved inside, playtime afterwards has been reinstated, and we are living it up! After two years of outside or virtual programming, it feels wonderful!
Thinking about Tweens
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about tweens of late. My youngest son has reached tweendom at twelve, so the manifestations of the age are in my face daily. I’m working on a grant right now that is targeted at kids in junior high, and I’m learning so much about this age as a result. Let’s talk about some fun tween facts: The ages of 11-14 have been proven to be critical in the development of self-regulation. Social and emotional awareness explodes during the tween years, with a particular emphasis on social hierarchy, gender codes, and self-identity. Cognitive function changes greatly between pre-adolescence and adolescence, with tweens still rooted firmly in concrete cognition, while later adolescents develop more abstract thought.
Time Management for Library Professionals
So… about that turning the corner on the pandemic… Omicron has done a number on us out here in California. I’m not sure how it’s going where you are, but in the last few weeks, it seems to me that EVERYONE is getting Covid. For those of us left running our branches, time is stretched more than usual. Priorities shift and plans change with no notice. We cover this, we cover that, and if you’re anything like me, we start losing track of our to do list, long term goals, and daily priorities.
A Crisis in Youth Mental Health: How the Public Library Can Respond
On December 7, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a warning about youth mental health, stating that there has been an “alarming” rise in certain mental health challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. He states, “Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable.” Dr. Murthy calls on everyone from youth themselves to caregivers, schools, community organizations and governments to do their part to create a healthier society. He says “we have an unprecedented opportunity as a country to rebuild in a way that refocuses our identity and common values, puts people first, and strengthens our connections to each other.” Children and Teen librarians are among the front-line workers who have direct communication with this population. We can intentionally and consistently shape our programming, collections, outreach, collaborations and in fact every day to…