Hi @inabookbind,
I really appreciate your post emphasizing on the importance of a fun and enjoyable staff learning experience that actually focuses on workers’ well-being (in particular their mental health) rather than exclusively focusing on patrons’ wants and needs. This is such an essential topic!

The examples you shared, like the Oak Par…[Read more]

@inabookbind Thanks for the kind words about my teaching! Means a lot right now!

There was good lighting for the picture for sure!

@inabookbind I love that you turned inward for this reflection! I agree that librarians who are happy and healthy will serve their communities better, so it’s mutually beneficial to grant staff time for self-care and peer connection. My library holds staff days with guest speakers, breakout sessions, and yummy treats, but it’s only once a year! It…[Read more]

@inabookbind It’s such a cool story of rebuilding and going way beyond what they had before.

@inabookbind Oh, really! How cool! Yes, the cafe idea is so frowned upon in some library settings, but it makes such a special experience. We are all used to having coffee shops inside our big box stores like Barnes and Noble (not to mention Borders- RIP), so why not incorporate that same logic into other learning/book/congregating areas?

@inabookbind That is cool! I’m glad they also have environments that assist those with ADHD, like the tactile rooms.

@inabookbind Is a quiet room a type of sensory room? My library has one for staff with a comfy chair, blanket, mini-zen garden, and meditation app. It’s a smaller room (with a door) off the main room, and is really nice to have! We rent the space, but I wish we could also have one for patrons, because we have received a couple requests of that nature

@inabookbind Thank you so much for reading, and for your very thoughtful comment.

@inabookbind Thank you for highlighting how important nature is to well-being. It reminds me of an article that identifies three main trends in recent library design, one of which is “The library as a highly sustainable green building that integrates nature and greenery in form of roof gardens or green spaces in a courtyard” (p. 239). Hooray for…[Read more]

@inabookbind The mental health aspects of nature are so important an I appreciate you using that framework for this post highlighting the Nature Library from Anythink and other nature-focused initiatives. Forest-bathing etc FTW!

@inabookbind So good!

@inabookbind Yes! It blows my mind too. Thanks for sharing!

@inabookbind I agree! Oodi in Helsinki would be a good choice too.

@inabookbind Super cool idea!

@inabookbind Thank you for this closer look at Dokk1. It’s high on my library tourism list! I didn’t know about their partnership with Værestedet, the “drop-in centre”. The video also has a great translation lesson: that “være” means “to be” in Danish! Both the library and the drop-in centre are places where you can just be. A good lesson in l…[Read more]

@inabookbind Thank you for highlighting discussions and displays regarding death. It seems to be something that people feel weird about talking about. I’ll dive in and say I just updated my will and made some decisions about my health etc for the future. It was absolutely freeing to put everything in place. I hope that is not weird!

@inabookbind So appreciate your explorations of Dokk1. The staff was so amazing and welcoming when I was there for Next Library in 2017 and 2019. I hope to get back sometime soon!

@inabookbind I’m sure it is daunting to stay on top of technolgical security, especially for libraries. With the AI generated photos, for example, security experts, and libraries, need to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. For as quickly, and realistic, as AI generated photos are, there are programs and people willing to use it maliciously.

@inabookbind Thank you! I thought I had updated that one and didn’t. Dates are there now. Forgive my hazy post travel brain.

@inabookbind @catladylilia @claireburke Yay! Things are going well. Monday was rainy so we visited all four museums under the National Galleries. So amazing!

Claire – any chance I get I suggest to parents or their young folk: travel outside the US – it is eye opening and life changing…especially if you are a YA.