Join me tomorrow morning to explore interruptions and invitiations to rest for library workers. I'm so honored to be collaborating with the Radical Empathy and Leadership (REAL) LAB, who is hosting this necessary conversation! Register today: tinyurl.com/3c83d5pb
Renewers, I'll be offering two talks next month! Register soon, and I hope to see you at either of these free community events. Be sure to repost or share this with a library worker who is exploring a rest or self-preservation reset! tinyurl.com/yst5ekyc
Hey Renewers - it's our anniversary. Check out the yearly update here: renewalslis.com/eight-years-...
Renewers, check out the latest Black In The Stacks podcast episode. I join host Marquita Gooch for a candid conversation about navigating and recovering from workplace harm. Learn more about the episode and listen here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-m8vh9-...
Hey Renewers, as the light grows, remember to turn your clocks back this weekend - and don't forget to join me for my March talks if you can! Learn more: tinyurl.com/afyyd74n
I'm overflowing(!) with joy to share that my course, Critical Hope & Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship, will be offered at the University of South Carolina School iSchool this summer! Registration is now open to graduate students & LIS practitioners. Learn more: tinyurl.com/2je46kdw
Renewers, keep in mind that the organization's desire is to keep itself going. Move accordingly when seeking your new role! Which things are (will you be) doing? See more at tinyurl.com/ywtnykv2
Renewers, I'm excited to reconnect with you live this year - here are my first speaking engagements of 2026. Learn more at tinyurl.com/uxxf9duc, and I hope to see you all soon!
The Reset Experience is happening soon, and I'm excited to introduce our speakers! Register for this complimentary community-building event at tinyurl.com/3jzvnswc. Only a few spaces are left! Workers from all libraries and library-supporting/adjacent workplaces are welcome.
"With love, bell hooks reminds us that healing is done in community – not alone. Therefore, in addition to sharing information about rest ...we must also offer spaces for people to imagine, craft, engage, and be held accountable for protecting space(s) to and practices of rest." tinyurl.com/5epjpvaa
Much love to the library workers in Minneapolis...and Chicago...and Portland...and...[your city]. Library workers, take care of each other, too!
"As library worker exposure to library values rejection, systemic harm, and compromised safety continue ... we need to revisit and to acknowledge the very real interruptions to rest practices – especially for truamatized workers and those with historically ignored identities." - tinyurl.com/2jw76hjv
Passive-Aggressive Communication is one of the main causes and manifestions of dysfunctional workplaces, and figuring out responses to ambivalent but harmful comments are one of the primary areas of rumination for harmed workers. Try these responses to help support or model clearer communication.
A new issue of our open-access journal, The Political Librarian, includes ‘We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, And A Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship’ by Kaetrena Davis Kendrick.
buff.ly/8eRRWmH
If you bypass emotional pain, the joy you're running too fast to meet will always feel forboden.
3/ sharing vulnerability, and responding to/intervening in harm when it presents as expected—or when it is revealed unexpectedly, as it is wont to do while engaging in the humane work of community-building, equity, social justice, and reconciliation." / END
2/ "Rejecting notions that unevenly leverage privacy of thought ideology to justify (the privilege of) turning away from others’ experience of harm and exclusion, I call on library workers to stay in the morally courageous and empathetic space of bearing witness, ...
1/ Colleagues, my newest article, "We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, And A Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship" has been published in The Political Librarian. tinyurl.com/3s7s282v
ALL IMLS grants restored in every state & territory.
In response to a ruling from a federal judge in Rhode Island, the Institute of Museum and Library Services reinstated all previously canceled grants in every state and territory. It's a huge win for libraries and our communities.
"The reinstatement of all IMLS grants means that libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination, and economic opportunity. We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not over." ALA President Sam Helmick. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
It's December 1 - today, start practicing leaving your job on time so you have the habit established by January 1, 2026. If that's not possible, start taking your lunch on time (and as soon as you can - start leaving on time). Stop giving these workplaces your free time.
Colleagues, I'm excited to share that applications are being accepted for the 2026 Minnesota Institute for Early Career Libarians! I'll be co-leading the Institute with Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros, and with support and participation of Ione Damasco! Learn more & apply here: tinyurl.com/yc6yhbha
👇🎉😁
"Despair is a tool of your enemies." - Audre Lorde
Last week I offered a keynote at the Library Marketing & Communications Conference. I asked attendees to share their hopes for libraries & library workers. Which of these resonate with you? See more here (and add your hopes below): tinyurl.com/3cydfvkz
If you're navigating an active low-morale experience, which of these worries resonate for you?
Colleagues, if you've taught or facilitated about Assertive Communication in libraries, I'd love to chat with you (or, if you know of someone who has done this work, please send recommendations) - thank you!
Toxic co-workers/organizations won't onboard you when you arrive at the job - and will plan/throw you a party when they've forced you to leave it.
Toxic bosses/organizations won't reward you when you stay late often - and will punish you if you arrive late once.
I'm excited to share that in January, I'm slated to teach my special topics course, "Critical Hope and Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship" at Dominican University's School of Information Studies! Learn more at tinyurl.com/mrxbchz
