Month: November 2024

Safe spaces for people to grow. In a quote by Dr. Michael Stephens, safe spaces are, “for every person who comes through our door to learn and grow (n.d.)”. This includes taking care of their well-being. One of his examples of well-being in the library, was the idea of a computer desk, at the library, attached to a slow-moving treadmill (thank goodness!). This is great for physical health, while exploring the catalog and library’s website, at the same time! (Stephens, n.d.) This idea came about as one of the soft skills, creativity, was being implemented. These skills are especially important in the service industry.

Dr. Stephens lists the qualities, or soft skills, that ensure an information professional will be successful in serving their patrons. They are : have curiosity, be creative, be confident, find balance (professional versus personal life), be empathetic, have character, have compassion, have mercy, and have understanding (Stephens, n.d.). When we exude these qualities, patrons are likely to sense their feel in the immediate environment, and are more likely to give positive responses to our assistance.

Reflective practice is vital in one’s life, but also in a workplace like libraries! When library staff reflect, and see a patron’s view in the public library, we can see where they are coming from, what they are wanting, and why they are reacting the way they do in a transaction. This understanding, and empathizing with this knowlege, can fuel how we navigate the transaction and likely promote a more positive outcome.

In one of his lectures, Dr. Michael Stephens explains that reflective practice has three parts: open-mindedness, responsibility, and wholeheartedness. Practice with love and serve with joy (n.d.). There is a saying that goes, “You get more flies with honey, than vinegar”. When we provide our services with love and empathy, we are showing people that they matter and that we are invested in helping them thrive in life. That is a huge part of our profession and should fuel how we enthusiastically go about our jobs, and our lives!

Reference

Stephens, M. (n.d.). Hyperlinked Library Reflective Practice [Canvas lecture]. https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=cc148563-15b7-4e17-bbab-af4b015d9a06

For service workers, emotional labor is defined as the effort it takes to interact with the public, in a socially acceptable fashion. In her article, Simon references A.R. Hochschild in naming two types of emotional labor: surface acting and deep acting. Surface acting is described as involving, “expressing inauthentic emotions” whereas deep acting is matching what one needs to express with how they feel (Simon, 2020). These acting states involve various interactions among both library staff and the public. Simon believes that emotional labor is forever going to be a part of the service industry and lists some strategies to help librarians cope in their jobs (2020).

One such strategy is getting support from your co-workers, as they like have experienced the same transactions and frustrations that you have. There is power in numbers, with knowing that you aren’t alone in the experience. Suggestions from other staff, on how to deal with a situaiton, are also very helpful! Another strategy is using the tools of mindfulness and relaxation (Simon, 2020). In my experience, mindfulness is checking in with the state of your body, thoughts, and spirit and acknowledging what emotions come up, then moving on from them. Relaxation is doing what you love, with no thought of a time constraint. These tools are about individual progress, healing, and enjoyment. All of these qualities are need to function and thrive in life, especially with individuals who regularly interact with the public.

Reference

Simon, K. (2020, May). Emotional Labor, Stressors, and Librarians Who Work with the Public. School of Information Research Journal, 10(1). DOI: 10.31979/2575-2499.100106

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     Growing up in today’s technologically advanced era has its challenges and benefits. We are now at a time in human history where increasingly advanced technology is becoming a part of everyday human life. In being a forward-thinking profession, librarians must be one step ahead, or at least keep pace with today’s technological advances. Besides thinking ahead, information professionals can help educate their communities by offering services such as related programs, one-on-one assistance with devices, programs, and apps, and the ability to find reliable information to educate the public on this subject.

In “Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant”, Samantha Murray Kelley talks about the increased use of technology in a young person’s life and explores how it influences their development. The example that she uses is explaining how one of their first words might be “Alexa” (or other branded device) because it is used in the parents’ home. She says it would be similar to using the word, “mama”, and that more studies need to be done to learn the influence of daily technology in the environment to children (Murray Kelley, 2018).

Above all, Murray Kelley recommends limiting children to the amount of time spent with technology. She also recommends that parents and caregivers use it more as a tool, instead of a replacement for human and social interactions (Murray Kelley, 2018). Information professionals can also assist in providing knowledge and sources, on facts and data, relating to children and how to navigate the technological world with them.

Reference

Kelly, S. (2018). Growing up with Alexa: A child’s relationship with Amazon’s voice assistant

It is difficult not to get a little teary eyed when watching a video of children, who are sensory sensitive, build a relationship with santa clause in the perfect environment of a library. What was most touching in a video, located within a video called The Power of Stories, was the level of engagement that grew as the kids became more comfortable with a new person, in a quieter environment which was more supportive. Parents, santa, and library staff provided the tools and environment for these young people and were very patient with any hesitancy on the part of the children. Without the support of the library staff, these familes would not have been able to successfully attend a Christmastime event, which is so foundational to childhood.

Libraries can also be louder, more collaborative spaces and, in combination with the aforementioned video, they demonstrate the importance of having more dynamic spaces, within a library buiding, at the same time. The trouble lies in hosting sometimes multiple, varied activity and noise leveled spaces, all under the same roof. For example, besides sensory kits, a noise sensitive (or louder) space may have better sound proofing in the walls. Libraries offering dynamic spaces inside their buildings both show a great consideration for their communites, and all around more thriving lives for those who visit.

 

Reference

Library 2.0. (2020, March 11). The Power of stories [Youtube video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZlTRTVX10&t=1578s