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 old. Renewals is no longer providing updates via the Twitter/X platform.
I’ve continued reporting on several of my ongoing data collection projects (view the latest briefs), and this year I added three new projects:
- Moral Injury During Low-Morale Experiences
- Share Your Hopes for Libraries and Library Workers
- Navigating Deflection Labor During Low-Morale Experiences
In April 2025, I completed my tenure as Follett Chair with the Dominican University’s School of Information Studies (DU SOIS). The invitation offered me opportunities to engage with DU SOIS faculty members and students, and to connect DU faculty and staff in general, and more specifically as I clarified my promotion and practice of Critical Hope in the LIS industry. In my final semester, I taught the inaugural section of my original course, “Critical Hope & Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship” (LIS 805). I also gave the Follett Lecture, titled “The Low-Morale Experience: Exploring Fractals of the Phenomenon & Considering Humane Library Futures.”
Since completing my time as Follett Chair, I’ve continued my connection with DU SOIS as adjunct faculty, where I offered my LIS 805 course in Summer 2025 and again in Spring 2026. This course is expanding to other iSchools, too: In June 2026, I will teach a six-week session of the course at the University of South Carolina School of Information Science (registration is open!).
As I continue refining and expanding Critical Hope praxis, I’ve partnered with my dear friend and long-time collaborator Ione T. Damasco (University of Dayton) on two projects:
- Convening for Critical Hope: A Gathering for Consideration and Practice in Libraries – a community-building event introducing the Critical Hope framework and offering reflection on pathways to practice (March 2025)
- Call for Proposals for Book Chapters: Catalyzing Critical Hope in Libraries: Narratives of Challenge and Change (forthcoming from ACRL). View the full proposal and submission details.
In May 2025, I traveled to New York to complete on-site facilitation for the Curatorial Ethics project, an originally IMLS-grant funded opportunity led by curator-scholar Dr. Kimberly Springer, and I continued work on an ongoing/forthcoming curriculum project. I hope to share results of this work later this year.
Commentary and discussion about workplace morale continues in social media and news – this year I engaged with the following podcasts:
- Overdue: Weeding Out Oppression in Libraries (May 2025)
- Black in the Stacks (March 2026)
Organizations invited me to lead Renewals professional development events, including:
- Virginia Public Library Directors Association (March 2025)
- British Columbia Library Association (July 2025, September 2025)
- OhioNet (October 2025)
I was also invited to offer keynotes and webinars to universities, libraries, and professional library and archives organizations and continuing education providers:
- Library Journal/School Library Journal (April 2025, June 2025, September 2025, October 2025)
- Largo Public Library (April 2025)
- British Columbia Library Association (May 2025)
- Reaching Across Illinois Library System (May 2025)
- Cooperating Raleigh Colleges (June 2025)
- Orbis Cascade Alliance (July 2025)
- Virginia Tech – Resident Librarian Retreat (August 2025)
- Library Marketing & Communications Conference (November 2025)
I also presented at regional and national library conferences:
- Association of College & Research Libraries (April 2025)
- Metrolina Library Association (June 2025)
- South Carolina Library Association (October 2025)
- American Library Association (February 2026)
- Southeast Collaborative Online Conference (March 2026)
And I volunteered to lead conversations on learning platforms:
- Library Juice Academy Webinar (July 2025)
Renewals Coaching is in its fourth year, and Renewals Executive Coaching is in its third year, I’m continuing my collaborations with people who want career clarity and/or support as they navigate within or transition from dysfunctional workplaces. This year, clients share:
“Kaetrena is a joy to work with. She is a witty and bright person who is a deeply gifted coach. She makes room to listen but it is her words and insight that are so incredibly impactful. From day one, and with every session, I have recovered a bit more confidence about moving forward. ” – Renewals Executive Coaching Client
“I have a lot of to be proud of on my CV and in my skillset, and I’m thankful for Kaetrena for really making me shine a spotlight on myself.” – Renewals Relaunch Client
“Absolutely (would recommend Renewals Coaching)! A low-morale environment/experience can be very isolating. So thankful to have the leading scholar in the field offer this service.”- J.B., Renewals Executive Coaching Client
While in attendance at the 2025 ACRL Conference in Minneapolis, I offered Renewals Coaching mini-sessions – brief coaching sessions for focused conversations on a variety of topics – from low-morale recovery and leading through dysfunction to self-preservation planning and career reimagining. I hope to continue offering support in this way in 2026. If you’re seeking support as you navigate or heal from workplace harm, let’s set up a Connection Call.
I intentionally re-entered scholarly publishing this year to promote beneficence in librarianship as a corollary to care and LIS ethics and critical hope practice:
- Considering Beneficence as a Core Librarianship Practice – Information Matters (August 2025)
- We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, and a Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship – The Political Librarian (December 2025)
I plan to resume formal studies of low-morale experiences in particular library workplaces. To that end, I renewed my CITI Training for Human Subjects Research (October 2025).
I expanded my efforts to build community this year: in June 2025, Renewals offered its inaugural Reset Experience, bringing together curated speakers to engage with library workers facing or recovering from workplace harm. The 2-hour complimentary event garnered over 200 registered attendees interested in learning about and practicing self-preservation skills with:
- Steven Adams (Northwestern University Libraries)
- Sarah (Wallace) Hightower, LPC, SEP (Blue Heron Counseling Services)
- Clenise Platt (The Plattinum Group)
Renewals offered a second Reset Experience in February 2026, this time focusing on communication skills and continuing somatic awareness support. Speakers were:
- Barbara Alvarez, PhD
- Sarah Wallace, LPC, SEP (Blue Heron Counseling Services)
I redesigned the Renewals Newsletter and published six issues, sharing information about events, book recommendations, mental health resources, and more. Subscribe to stay connected!
Just earlier this month, I was tapped by University of Redlands to take on the role of Interim University Librarian at Armacost Library. I’m excited to expand my practice and praxis to the West Coast throughout the coming months!
This year will be an important one as Renewals undergoes significant change and challenge, and I’m so glad to have your support. This year’s update, as always, is offered in honor/memory of my maternal grandmother, Lillian (Dennis) Delaney Edney (1925 – 2022), who filled my earliest memories and life with examples of love, compassion, and the pursuit of clarity and joy. Today is her 101st birthday.
Through my mission to inspire authentic collegiality, and to promote well-being, share the gifts of creativity, and cultivate empathetic, engaged leadership in the workplace, I will continue to improve. Please look forward to it.
All Best,
P.S. If you’d like to see our progress throughout the years, browse prior Anniversary updates!
