Trainings & Workshops
Mission-driven organizations are filled with passionate people who care deeply about their work. But no one should have to accept harassment, intimidation, or other harmful workplace behaviors in order to fulfill that mission. This training explores the concepts, policies, practices, and mindsets that help create psychologically safe workplaces, where employees feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, raising concerns, and admitting mistakes without fear of embarrassment, retaliation, or negative consequences. Participants will gain practical tools and strategies to recognize and respond to harassment, strengthen workplace culture, establish healthy boundaries, and foster environments built on trust, respect, and openness.
Boards offer key support, guidance, and oversight, but in nonprofit libraries this relationship can become too informal and can lead to conflict among board, executive director, and paid & volunteer workers. This training is designed to bring together nonprofit board members and directors to name the boundaries that keep this relationship healthy, practice setting those boundaries, and consider policy approaches that help keep these boundaries clear and firm. The training will be based in forward-looking practice (not settling blame or judgment on past practice).
Every year, new public library directors start a job only to find arcane by-laws and policies, handwritten meeting minutes stored in the board secretary’s car, and a policy handbook that says more about not forwarding chain emails than it does about telecommuting. This training takes new public library directors on a crash-course: key policies for public libraries, how policies differ from procedures and practices, style considerations in writing policies, how to share and store policies, how to keep them current, and finally discussing some sample policies. This training is appropriate for both nonprofit and municipal (and quasi-municipal) public libraries of all sizes.
In today’s challenging world, our kids need joy now more than ever. This workshop combines the magic of funny & inspiring books, movement, and creative activities to spark laughter, foster connection and uplift moods. Through interactive stories, movement exercises, and programming ideas, attendees will learn easy ways to incorporate joy into their programming helping students (and teachers/librarians alike) engage, laugh, and learn together. – we know this will work – for schools & libraries but appropriate for anyone who provides direct service to the public.