M8 Trauma in the Library Workplace (Staff)

Feb 20

Overview

For module 8 we turn our focus to staff--how staff experience trauma in the library workplace. We learn about and discuss the sources of trauma for staff, factors that create or contribute to staff trauma, and how certain demographics are more susceptible to experiencing trauma. We will focus specifically on the Trauma in the Library study by Karen and Phoebe, and the Urban Libraries Trauma study. Note that in M9, we will focus on ways of supporting staff and trauma prevention.

Objectives

1. To learn about the sources of trauma experienced by staff in the library workplace.

2. To learn about the factors that contribute to traumatic experiences by staff.

3. To learn about how certain demographics may be more at-risk/susceptible to trauma.

Readings

Caron, C. (Oct 31, 2024) “Librarians Face a Crisis of Violence and Abuse: As libraries become public stages for social problems — homelessness, drug use, mental health — the people who work there are burning out.” New York Times. [download/attach pdf]

Urban Librarians Unite (2022). Urban Library Trauma StudyLinks to an external site. [about staff]

Dudak, L. T., Comito, L., & Zabriskie, C. (2023). “You Can’t Self-Care Your Way Out of a Broken System”: The 2022 Urban Libraries Trauma Forum. Public Library Quarterly (New York, N.Y.), 42(6), 650–664.

Urban Libraries Unite (2024). Bibliography (Airtable) of readings about staff trauma. Note, this page comes with a trigger warning as it contains extensive, explicit articles about incidents of staff trauma. Please explore the entire ULU website as it contains lots of important info.

Peet, L. (2022). Tackling Trauma: As Frontline Public Library Workers Experience Increasing Levels Of Trauma On The Job, A Recent Report And Forum Consider How To Help Disrupt The Cycle. Library Journal, 147(7), 20-. (about the ULU study and discusses vocational awe)

Shaghaei, N., et al. (2022). Library resilience and leadership in a global crisis. LIBER Quarterly, 32(1), 1–21.

Westbrook, L. (2015). “I’m not a social worker”: An information service model for working with patrons in crisis. The Library Quarterly, 85(1), 6-25.

Dudak, L. (2023). Working Toward Wellness:Links to an external site. As awareness increases about the need to address personal challenges both inside and out of the library, staff and practitioners--from leaders to frontline workers--are sharing their experiences, observations, and views around trauma-informed librarianship. Library Journal, 148(2), 36-40.

Stevenson, S. (2022). Third-Party Violence, Incivility, and the Frontline Public Library Worker. Library Quarterly, 92:4, 330-354.

Links to an external site.

Lectures/videos

Karen and Phoebe's Trauma in the Library Study (first half of presentation to WA State library directors) Voicethread

Karen and Phoebe's Trauma in the Library Study PDF

Amanpour & Company (Sept. 27, 2024). Interview with Louisiana librarian Amanda Jones, author of “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America.” Jones details the online and in-person abuse she experienced after speaking out against book bans.

Discussions

M8 Staff Trauma

InfoLate #8 iHelp No Screens

Assignments

A4 Staff Trauma & Interventions (due March 5)