New MiniBlog Series: Renewals Book Haul

As a practicing librarian – and also throughout my work surfacing low-morale experiences – I’ve come across several books that have not only illuminated my studies’ qualitative data, but provided deep context into the mental, physical, and emotional impacts of the phenonemon.  I’d like to share what I’ve found, so I’m starting an intermittent mini-blogContinue reading “New MiniBlog Series: Renewals Book Haul”

Interview: Infobase/Credo Reference (April 2020)

Raymond Pun interviewed me about my survey on low morale experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic (see more results here, here, and here). In this short discussion, I share the most concerning emerging data and how I hope the data will be applied in library decision-making as we move through the pandemic (and beyond).  Read theContinue reading “Interview: Infobase/Credo Reference (April 2020)”

BIPOC in LIS Mental Health Summit – Panel Resources

Thank you for attending (and/or for your interest in) the BIPOC Mental Health Summit, which was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The BIPOC Mental Health Summit — conceptualized by Kaetrena Davis Kendrick and Twanna Hodge and implemented with the further expertise and presence of Amanda M. Leftwich and Rayna Smaller — offers Black, Indigenous,Continue reading “BIPOC in LIS Mental Health Summit – Panel Resources”

Report Update: Low Morale and COVID-19, Part 2 (March 2020)

This is the second of a two-part report summarizing the latest results of my ongoing survey on the impact of COVID-19 on ongoing low-morale experiences. This second part centers qualitative data. Please view the first part focusing on quantitative data. Please share your experience(s) of increased abuse/neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic: Critical questions and emailsContinue reading “Report Update: Low Morale and COVID-19, Part 2 (March 2020)”

Report Update: Low Morale and COVID-19, Part 1 (March 2020)

It’s been about two weeks since I launched my survey tracking COVID-19’s (Novel Coronavirus) impact on ongoing low-morale experiences. Check this Tweet thread for nascent results, which reflected all participants at that time (n=46). This study focuses on people who were already dealing with low-morale before the discovery and development of the COVID-19 pandemic inContinue reading “Report Update: Low Morale and COVID-19, Part 1 (March 2020)”

Early Report: Low-Morale Experiences and COVID-19 (March 2020)

Earlier this evening I created and distributed an informal survey documenting if and how library responses to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) are impacting ongoing low-morale experiences. For expediency’s sake, I tweeted the survey’s nascent results. Future summaries of this survey data will be reported here at Renewals. The survey will remain open during the U.S. NationalContinue reading “Early Report: Low-Morale Experiences and COVID-19 (March 2020)”

#RecommendedReading

Title: The pyschodynamics of bullying in the library. Authors: Steven W. Staninger. ABSTRACT: This article discusses the behaviors that create an environment conducive to bullying. The structures and hierarchies of libraries are identified as being susceptible to bullying behaviors. Research about defining and identifying bullying is presented, as well as strategies to help eradicate bullyingContinue reading “#RecommendedReading”

Renewals Reach: the challenges of repository work

Ruth Kitchin Tillman has shared an intensely observational authoethnography of the challenges of repository work. Her piece starkly illuminates the affective impacts and practice outcomes of working with technology platforms that are constantly changing while trying to manage the professional (and also emotional) expectations of stakeholders invested in repository functionalities and the collections/objects they areContinue reading “Renewals Reach: the challenges of repository work”

#RecommendedReview

Title: Caution! Hazardous substances: Recognizing and deflecting toxic personalities in the workplace. Authors: Terrence Bennett, Mollie Freire, and Ann Campion Riley. ABSTRACT: Personality conflict in the workplace can lead to an ongoing work situation that is painful, personally difficult and uncomfortable through a special combination of factors. This presentation address some aspects of conflict in theContinue reading “#RecommendedReview”

#RecommendedReading

Title: Incivility and Dysfunction in the Library Workplace: Perceptions and Feedback from the Field. Authors: Jo Henry, Joe Eshleman, Rebecca Croxton, and Richard Moniz. ABSTRACT: Issues associated with lack of civility, less than ideal functionality and employees that may not self-reflect as much they should are all challenges in the modern workplace and libraries are no exception. The purposeContinue reading “#RecommendedReading”