When the weather turns cooler, we begin our focus on the end-of-year slow down – and perhaps also, to considering how to refine or expand our approaches to healing, recovery, and self-discovery. Here are a few titles to consider – and as always, feel free to share your picks, as well! Burke, T. & Brown,
Book Haul: Self-Trust Read More »
Earlier this year, Elaina Norlin invited me to be a guest on the Workplace Chronicles podcast (presented by the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries). Our conversation focused on my low-morale experience studies and also went further into how I’ve been: considering and supporting low-morale experience recovery and healing; leveraging coaching skills to support library workers
Recorded: Workplace Chronicles Podcast – ASERL (September 2026) Read More »
In the latter units of this course, students are guided through content and conversations surrounding morale, which then move into conversations about self-preservation and alignments with critical hope praxis. As part of these discussions, students were offered the optional opportunity to take the Low-Morale Experience Assessment. Following are two sets of results (one from each
As fall arrives and settles in, I’ll be speaking at several events! September 17 | Oberlin Group of Libraries Annual Meeting (Colorado Springs, Colorado) October 8 | 2026 Minnesota Library Association Conference (this year’s event is virtual – check out the schedule) October 19 | 2026 Virginia Library Association Conference (Norfolk, Virginia). See the program.
Reserved: Various (September & October 2026) Read More »
For the past few years, I’ve taught my original course, Critical Hope & Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship with the Dominican University School of Information Studies. This year I expanded availability of this course by offering it through the University of South Carolina School of Information Science (iSchool)! Moreover, it was made available to both degree-seeking students
Renewals is eight years old (the Renewers Facebook community is seven, too – and our social media channel on Instagram is five years old). Renewals’ Facebook and Instagram communities continue their growth, with member/follower numbers at 2,475 and 1,264 respectively; Blue Sky (285 followers) and Threads (608 followers) social platform presence is about one year
Renewals hosted the second session of The Reset Experience on February 4, 2026. This second session attracted over 200 registrants, and during the two-hour event (technical difficulties nonwithstanding!) attendees heard from invited speakers as we delved into a focused exploration of recovery from workplace harm, burnout, and associated experiences. The Reset Experience also offered attendees
Report: The Reset Experience: mid-winter 2026 (February 2026) Read More »
I’ve enjoyed a good end-of-year hiatus, and I’m excited to share my first speaking engagements of this year. See below to learn more. Febrary 4, 2026 | Renewals Presents The Reset Experience: mid-winter 2026. 10A – 12P ET (Learn more) February 10, 2026 | American Library Association: Recharging in Challenging Times. 12P ET (Register here).
Reserved: Various (February 2026) Read More »
Sometimes when I’m reading for pleasure, the prose, concerns, conversations, or challenges that protagonists face offer unwitting help as I navigate my own recovery from workplace harm. Concerns about belonging, discerning safety, navigating freedom, remembering missed chances to make another decision, or meeting people who help us along the way – all show up from
Book Haul: Reflective Fiction Read More »
While reviewing data I’ve received during participant interviews for my low-morale experience studies and from respondents to my ongoing data collection projects, I’ve noticed recurring acts that interrupt employee success and engagement. As I categorized them in groups, I eventually placed them under the broad concept of what I call GOTCHA Culture: workplace environments characterized
Employee Success, Interrupted: Recognizing GOTCHA Workplaces, Part 2 Read More »