Transparency in communication is critical at all levels. It is necessary for an equitable and inclusive workplace as well as for library stakeholders to understand changes as they occur. Without it, leaders lack the context needed to understand the decisions they must make, and workers have difficulty with trust and buy-in.

Libraries often must justify collection decisions and find creative ways to remove barriers to access. Attaining a broad understanding of intellectual freedom as a professional value will strengthen librarian’s ability to navigate challenges and implement effective policies.

A successful mentorship program can foster meaningful connections across the staff. Discover best practices, effective strategies, and practical tips to empower individuals on their personal and professional growth journeys through the power of mentorship. Set staff up for success, whether you have an established program, are exploring an initiative, or just looking for ways to improve staff connections across the organization, the models and insights shared will set you in the right direction.

Blogs and newsletters are still a great way to reach various library user audiences. In this session we will break down the components and best practices of effective library blogs and newsletters. Whether you are looking to refresh or launch a library blog or newsletter, this session will give you the tools. We will look a example library blogs and newsletters as well as free and low cost applications to support these library communication channels.

A well-run library depends on established processes and workflows to get work done. But this can also raise the risk of doing things "because that's how it's always been done." Identify and eliminate redundant and time-consuming tasks, automate repetitive processes, and prioritize essential activities using workflow analyses, process mapping, task prioritization, and automation tools. Form a plan for the continuous evaluation of processes and workflows resulting in improved service quality and enhanced user satisfaction.

Libraries are facing unprecedented challenges in attracting, developing, and retaining talented staff. Now more than ever, managers and leaders must create a positive workplace culture, offer a strategic vision, and foster communication to motivate and retain library staff. With helpful guidance and model practices, conquer the managerial challenges that damage staff morale and mitigate their impact.

Unresolved conflicts can lead to decreased productivity, low morale, and even legal issues. Learning how to manage conflicts among employees is an essential skill for any manager. Uncover different conflict resolution strategies and identify tools to manage employee conflicts effectively, recognize the root cause of conflicts, employ active listening techniques, and leverage negotiation skills.

Well-written, concise policies are the framework that holds a library together and makes everything run smoothly while ensuring fairness and consistency. Review the key steps in the policy development process from writing to reviewing, publishing, and evaluating how policies fit with the vision and mission of the institution.

Are you in charge of creating documentation for the processes at your library? Do you feel overwhelmed by this task, or like you don't know where to start? This class will break down documentation creation into manageable chunks using the five-step technical writing process. Participants will learn how to plan, structure, write, review, and publish their documentation. This course includes many opportunities for hands-on practice with the creation of documentation.