Let's Debrief: Library Incident Support Tools for Frontline Staff

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

As public libraries across North America experience increasingly complex social issues, frontline staff are confronted with challenging situations on a daily basis—and it is no longer enough to expect them to simply “shake it off.” Systematic supports such as employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs) and employee wellness programs can help with ongoing concerns, but immediate support is crucial and can be harder to access or provide. Debriefing can provide a timely and flexible intervention that helps library workers walk each other through the immediate impact of any incident. But debriefing doesn’t just happen without some intentional planning and processes in place.

This on-demand webinar uses real-life debriefing protocols that have been implemented at Calgary Public Library to provide people leaders in libraries with tools and skills to debrief with library staff. Panelists walk through the steps for debriefing, share examples of where debriefing can be used, and discuss ways to establish a process and introduce it to staff.

Recorded live on October 8, 2025.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the debriefing process, what it can (and can’t) accomplish, when it can be utilized, and how it can benefit frontline library staff, library leadership, and library patrons;
• Explore ways to leverage partnerships and community resources to create tools to support library staff; and
• Provide a replicable framework for other library systems providing service to the public to implement debriefing processes for their staff in a way that works in their context.

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar is intended for public library staff, supervisors, managers, and any people leaders supporting operations in public libraries.

Panelists

Mary Graham (she/her) is a service delivery manager at three community libraries of the Calgary Public Library in Alberta, Canada. She has worked in school, university, and special libraries, but has spent most of her career in her happy place—the public library. She has filled many roles at Calgary Public Library, including children's librarian, information services librarian, and service design lead, and worked at many different library locations within Calgary, including the Central Library in the inner city. Her current focus is visitor experience and supporting public service staff to create peak library moments, while facing the challenges of serving high needs and vulnerable patrons with compassion and respect. When she is not at work, she can be found walking her dog, singing with a local choir, and parenting her four school-aged kids.

 

Becky Potter (she/her) is a library experience supervisor at the Central Library of the Calgary Public Library. Her role focuses on supporting staff with safety and security, community partnerships, and library services for vulnerable Calgarians. Her previous roles at Calgary Public Library include adult literacy and learning advocate focusing on community partnerships and community outreach; and program coordinator delivering programs to community partners serving the vulnerable sector. Becky has worked on many community-focused initiatives, including Financial Futures Collaborative (FFC), Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative (CPRI), and the Safe Communities Opportunity Resource Center (SORCe). When she’s not at work, Becky likes to spend time outdoors with her family camping, biking, and snowboarding.

  

Important Registration Information

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Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).