Librarian by Day
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Bobbi Newman is a librarian, writer, consultant, library advocate, and an international speaker. I am available, and delighted, to speak on a variety of library, technology, and innovation related topics.
Librarian by Day
1w ago
I was asked to speak about wellness at our staff meeting at the University of Iowa Libraries this week. This was the first time I had been asked to speak where I work, and I was nervous in a way I hadn’t been nervous when speaking for a very long time. Fortunately, my coworkers are ..read more
Librarian by Day
2w ago
I started reading more on the topic of psychological safety due to some recent conversations and it I think it is an important follow up to the post on setting boundaries at work. One particular conversation shined a light on the conflict between psychological safety and the veneer of niceness that librarians value so much ..read more
Librarian by Day
1M ago
Setting boundaries at work is not just a matter of personal preference; it’s an important part of well-being at work for you and your teammates. Setting boundaries helps maintain a healthy work-life balance and ensures long-term well-being. Establishing clear boundaries helps safeguard our mental and emotional health. By setting boundaries around time, how we are ..read more
Librarian by Day
1M ago
The Daylight savings time change is this weekend, and changing the clocks impacts our personal well-being and work. Adjusting the clocks adds more daylight to our evenings, but it can also increase the likelihood of car accidents and mistakes on the road due to disrupted sleep patterns. The shift in time can disturb our sleep ..read more
Librarian by Day
2M ago
This week’s link round-up includes several links to training on trauma-informed care. Not only is it important that we take a trauma-informed approach when dealing with patrons, but also internally in the library with staff. Trauma-informed leadership is an approach that reshapes the dynamics within the workplace. It’s based on the understanding that personal and ..read more
Librarian by Day
2M ago
A new review of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace is out from Stephanie Robertson in The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI). Thank you to Stephanie for this thoughtful review. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI): Book ReviewNewman, B. L. (2022). Fostering wellness in the workplace: A handbook for libraries ..read more
Librarian by Day
2M ago
When I started reading research about wellness and health at work, I also looked at personal wellness and self-care. In part because those personal things were what many presentations and trainings focused on. Teaching individuals how to practice resilience or self-care rather than taking action to address the causes of burnout, bad coworkers, or toxic ..read more
Librarian by Day
3M ago
When I first began reading research to develop the Wellness in the Workplace class, I discovered that when weight loss programs are implemented at work, they also hinder and ruin teamwork and camaraderie. Weight loss and movement programs at work create an environment that encourages staff to watch and judge other staff members. It may ..read more
Librarian by Day
3M ago
In October 2022, the U.S. Surgeon General released a framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace. This was partially in response to media reports of “quiet quitting” (though the term is problematic as the behavior it references is a result of poor management) and the great resignation. The press release states: The Surgeon General’s ..read more
Librarian by Day
3M ago
A recent article in the New York Times reported survey results that are not surprising to followers of this blog: workplace wellness programs do not work. Many of the types of wellness that the survey focused on are things organizations do to get employees to manage the stress and outcomes of the workplace policies and culture. Across ..read more