Like many public servants in the library profession, I entered my career with a deep commitment to welcoming all who walked through the doors. This is who we are as librarians, and this commitment still rings true today.

The reality of a library career, however, is that many public servants are faced with boundary challenges, including harassment, yet they are not given the tools or trained in the skills to address them. Adding to the challenge, many workplaces do not have explicit policies and procedures that administrators and library staff can turn to when boundaries are crossed or harassment occurs.

Through my own experiences, I realized that these important tools for public workers were missing: no one taught me what to say when someone crossed a boundary. No one talked about the emotional toll these experiences can take or how managers and organizations can create systems that truly support their staff.

The reality is that harassment in libraries is not rare, it's widespread. Research shows that 89.3% of public-facing workers experience harassment on the job.

That means nearly every public servant, in nearly every public space, will face these situations at some point in their career.

This is why I started Next Chapter Consulting: to bring that number down by giving staff and the organization they serve practical, evidence-based tools to recognize harassment, respond confidently, and set healthy boundaries. We also partner with leaders to strengthen policies, management practices, and workplace culture so staff feel supported before, during, and after difficult situations.

Public spaces should continue to be welcoming places for everyone. But welcoming the public should never come at the expense of the people who make those spaces possible.

Christina holds a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Library and Information Science, along with a British Association of Teachers Dance license and an American Council on Exercise license.