M9: Mitigating Staff Trauma: Prevention, Healing, & Administration

Feb 27

Overview

For M9 we focus on interventions for preventing and mitigating trauma in the library workplace. We draw upon readings in LIS and cognate fields to understand the most effective ways for helping staff.

Objectives

1. Learn about approaches for preventing staff trauma.

2. Learn about approaches for mitigating staff trauma.

3. Reflect on the techniques we've covered in our weekly infolates for countering stress and anxiety.

Readings

Tolley, R. (2020). A trauma-informed approach to library services. (Ch13-14). Chicago: American Library Association.

Lipsky, L. D., & Burk, C. (2009). Trauma stewardship: An everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others. (Ch 2 "Three Levels of Trauma Stewardship" and Part 4, ch 7-12 about the 5 directions of trauma stewardship) San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. (I'm a huge fan of this book and find it very helpful)

Trauma Stewardship Institute (Lara Lipsky's site has lots of great content and a podcast)

Renewals: Empathetic, Engaged Career Coaching and Organizational Belonging Consultation. (Kaetrena Davis Kendrick' website)

Urban Libraries Unite

Provence, M. A. (2023). Three models of practice: Impacts on the de-escalation role of library social workers during crises with patrons experiencing homelessness. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 72(4), 400-419.

media

Karen & Phoebe's presentation to WA State Library Directors, Part II. PDF and Voicethread

Nisha Modi. (Jan 27, 2022). LAUC-B 2021 Conference: "Moving from 'What's wrong with you?' to 'What happened to you?': Trauma-Informed Care in Libraries." NLM. (31 minutes)

LIST PARTS 1 & 2:

Kaetrena Davis Kendrick (Jan 2024). Two-part podcast on low staff morale and mental health in the library workplace and creating resilient staff. Part 1. Part 2.

Discussions

M9 Trauma Stewardship and Other Ways of Supporting Staff

InfoLate #9 iHelp Solidarity

Assignments

A4 Staff Trauma & Interventions (due March 5)