Book Syrup

“Essential Skills + Mindset² x Support = Success” (Stephens, 2019, p. 32).

When I was a young college student, I was majoring in psychology. In one class, my professor, Dr. Sharon Ng, discussed the role of art in therapy, how it helped people to “bleed onto the page”. That concept has stayed with me, even almost—cough—30 years later. It helps to strengthen me when I argue the importance of including art programs in the library and insisting that library workers—no matter their role—be given the option to participate in the programs. I have witnessed firsthand how being involved allows creativity to flow into all aspects of the library, strengthening the connection of staff to the library and its patrons as well as building empathy for all.

Cowell (2017) argued that creativity should be embedded in the library, that managers should embrace the outside-the-box thinking that staff brings to the table. Stephens (2019) discussed the importance of being “compassionate creatives”, that desirable skills in library workers included “creativity in some form, as well as an emphasis on meeting our work with humanism, grace, and kindness” (p. 34). When upper management supports the ingenuity of staff, libraries are allowed to evolve, to better serve the needs of their communities, to be creative spaces. Cowell (2017) recommends giving staff time, being transparent with budgets, giving purpose, setting priorities, and saying yes. Being open to change and creativity, avoiding cynicism, and being mindful are ways that management can support and grow a library of the heart.

I began working at libraries early on, volunteering in school libraries in junior high and high school, graduating to public libraries once I started college. The one thing that was consistent—besides the smell of books—was how much librarians cared about their communities. That is what led me to leave marketing, take a pay cut to become a library assistant, work my way up, and finally choose to go back to school to get my MLIS. That dedication to the public was something that I wanted to be a part of, and something I hope to never forget as I become a manager myself.

References

Cowell, J. (2017, May 28). A challenge to library managers: Embed creativity in your library. Medium. https://janecowell8.medium.com/a-challenge-to-library-managers-embed-creativity-in-your-library-496d540ab7a3

Stephens, M. (2019). Whole-hearted librarianship: Finding hope, inspiration, and balance. American Library Association.