I recently completed instruction for my “Deconstructing Low-Morale Experiences in Academic Libraries” course, which was hosted on the Library Juice Academy platform. This is the first time since the Pandemic that I’ve offered the course. Early in the course, I gathered cohort information about their low-morale experiences – you can view the results here.
At the end of the four-week course, I offered the cohort an opportunity to evaluate the course. Participation was optional, and of the active members in the course, there was a 50% response rate.
Following are selected results of the course evaluation.
Share something that you learned in this course or a concept that was defined more clearly as a result of this course:
“There are mitigation efforts that can be done to address low morale situations.“
“The course helped me understand that managerial negligence IS abuse. I went into the course not even sure that my LMEs were LMEs as defined in your paper and the course, or that what I experienced could be considered abuse. I came out of it with an unequivocal understanding of exactly why they did meet the relevant definitions.”
Share any items you wish were covered in this course.
“There were a number of times in the coursework when I was reminded of writings on Slow Librarianship by Meredith Farkas, Julia Glassman and others, and perhaps that concept could be introduced in the readings.”
“Maybe more about staff/faculty disparities in academic libraries.”
Please share if any mental or emotional impacts of low-morale improved – even incrementally – as a result of this course.
“Revisiting the history of poor treatment I’ve endured has been difficult, but necessary to formulate a more positive response to that treatment. I’ve wallowed in the negative for far too long and it has impacted my well being. This course has bolstered my initiative to move forward differently.”
“Even though reopening those old wounds that I thought I’d healed long ago was surprisingly emotional, it led to connections that I’d failed to make until I had a more structured context in which to examine them. I found the course inspiring and invigorating, and I feel more engaged for having participated.”
“Yes, a little bit; glad to see I wasn’t alone in feeling this way (there was a whole course dedicated to it!) and that there’s solutions, although they’re not easy.”
“The course was emotionally difficult because of the topic! But reading others’ experiences and comments really helped. I appreciated the interactions and the kindness.”
“Yes. This helped me to see I can make some changes.“
How has this course impacted your career outlook and/or your approach to your daily librarianship practice?
“I’m resolved to be more positive and proactive about my work and career.”
“…[T]he course gave me a critical framework to place my own experiences in context and the inspiration to keep doing the hard work to change. It was really astonishing to discover how widespread these experiences are and how common the responses. The course also helped me realize that even though I’m in a much better place than I was for my earlier LMEs, I’d actually become a little disengaged from professional learning [due to] a more recent LME last year (that I’m not sure I even recognized as an LME before this course – so thank you!).”
“It makes me feel hopeful.”
What are your immediate plans to continue your positive recovery (personally and/or at work)?
“Continue to review the concepts – being able to identify the issues with real words helps.”
“Make a plan and carry it out.”
“Therapy, swimming/exercising, new job hopefully! Maybe get another degree.”
Thanks to the May 2024 cohort, who shared their experiences and encouragement for the continuous expansion of humaneness and integrity within our academic library workplaces.
If you like, you may also review previous evaluations of this course: October 2018; May 2019.
