Wearing Too Many Hats: Finding Balance in Today’s Library Workplace

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Course Description

Library work has always required flexibility, but sometimes it can feel like you’re expected to do everything. From programming and outreach to staffing, administration, and supporting patrons through complex needs, many library workers are expected to take on more roles as part of their everyday work. And in reality, it’s not always possible to say no, especially when expectations come from leadership or when staffing changes mean absorbing additional responsibilities.

This course acknowledges those realities and focuses on what is within your control. Participants will explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, communicating priorities, and navigating expectations, along with approaches to delegation and workload management that reflect the realities of library work. The course also includes an overview on how to approach self-care, focused not on adding more to your plate, but on sustaining yourself within the day-to-day demands of the job.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the multiple roles and responsibilities they manage in their current position
  • Prioritize competing demands based on organizational needs and realistic capacity
  • Apply strategies for setting boundaries within workplace expectations
  • Communicate workload, priorities, and limitations effectively with supervisors and colleagues
  • Recognize opportunities for delegation and shared responsibility
  • Develop simple systems to manage workload and reduce overwhelm
  • Apply sustainable approaches to maintaining well-being in a demanding work environment

Instructor

Kimberli S. Buckley has over fifteen years of experience in the library field working with teens and adults. She is currently the library manager at Concord Library in Contra Costa County, California. Kimberli has a passion for teaching classes on life skills for emerging adults. She teaches at San Jose State University’s School of Information and also teaches an online class called Growing Up Is Hard. She loves to be creative when it comes to library programming, and she has been known to tap into her inner unicorn to bring all her ideas to life. Kimberli has an MLIS degree from San Jose State University and an MA in consciousness studies from John F. Kennedy University.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-510.


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