On June 18, 2025, Renewals hosted our inaugural Reset Experience. Announced on June 4, 2025, the complimentary online community-building event garnered over 200 registered attendees. Together, we explored recovery from library workplace harm through focused conversations from curated speakers, strategy identification, and most importantly, time to practice with tools created or offered by the facilitators. Registered attendees also received a Recap that included selected recordings and other resources so they can continue their practices and reflections.
Here are some key takeaways shared by Reset Experience attendees.
Share a concept or perspective that you learned (or that was clarified) during The Reset Experience:
“I think there is a need to keep coming back to the why we’re in the mindset and situation that we’re in and it was nice to see from the 3rd presentation with kind of a visual of what that looks like, because we all know our symptoms. We feel them and recognize them and that’s why we’re here.”
“I especially appreciated the information about the psychological and physiological impacts of harm at work. As an older woman recently diagnosed with autism, I am learning so much in this area. I’m also hearing a lot of heartbreak from other library professionals in the autism community at how challenging our workplace practices can be for people who are neurodivergent and I’d like to be a leader to help make changes towards inclusion. As a manager, I know I have people in my dept who are autistic and/or have ADHD, and I worry that our Welcoming messaging often seems clueless about how to welcome those on the spectrum.”
“There’s power in dysfunction, systemic dysfunction. Destroy that power.”
Share a strategy that was covered during The Reset Experience that you will try or expand:
“Becoming better at documentation. I know how important it is from being a supervisor who has sometimes had to document performance issues (and I’m really good at that kind of documentation), but I’m really struggling with that for documenting bullying in the workplace where I’m the victim. It’s so traumatic to even try to recall all the events that I’ve experienced, that I’ve tended to lay it aside and keep trying to change my behavior instead, hoping that things will get better on their own…I really appreciated the content about how trauma doesn’t go away if we just try to ignore it!”
“Connecting to a grounding, positive experience before reflecting on a difficult experience.”
“Asking deep questions and analyzing my response to new ideas.”
Share how The Reset Experience may influence your efforts – even incrementally – in recovering from workplace harm:
“I have more tools in my toolbox and some great encouragement to try again after past attempts to get help were met with retaliation and intimidation from leadership.”
“…The Reset Experience has armed me with more tools to defend myself better and stop being a target. Its not okay!”
“I need to keep hearing about it for it to stick in my brain…Maybe one of these days something will strike me at the right time and I can move a bit forward. It’s hard right now.”
“Recognizing the harm and noting that this is not the norm and taking time to slow down and speak up against the harm – very valuable lessons.”
Please share any other thoughtful feedback about The Reset Experience:
“Thanks so much for offering this content for library workers– it’s SO important. And thanks for sharing the wisdom you’ve gained through your research. I felt so validated regarding my own experiences that I was actually in tears for part of the session. This kind of work is always hard and we need communities of support to make it possible for things to change.“
“I think that having [separate] sessions or [longer breaks] between the sessions would help with emotional overload and allow more people to attend all of the sessions.”
“I found the reset very powerful and touching. I learned vocabulary to express lived experiences and tools to self advocate, self reflect, and self soothe.”
“Thank you. This was a great way to the start the day with reflection and hope.”
I want to thank colleagues and contributors who gave their time, energy, and expertise to this event, including:
- Clenise Platt – Moderator (The Plattinum Group, LLC)
- Steven Adams, MLS – Guest Speaker (Northwestern University Libraries)
- Sarah Hightower, LPC, SEP – Guest Speaker (Blue Heron Counseling Services, LLC)
Renewals is honored to continue to conceptualize and expand ways for library workers to find and be in community as we recover from workplace harm. If you weren’t able to join us for the Inaugural Reset Experience, be sure to join the list so you’ll be notified for a future Experience!
