As you look to the month ahead, I bet you have a lot on your plate.  In November, our to do lists start to grow with competing demands for our time and attention. I’ve heard this time of year referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of the holidays in a number of contexts. A common theme among them is that this is an easy time to forget about our own needs.

We are regularly serving others and preparing a good experience for our communities and library users. We’re assisting people to take their next steps in their careers, to complete their homework, to get to those big home projects before company comes to visit, and to prepare for shorter days with long lists of tasks. In this time, please don’t forget to prepare yourself in all the same ways.  Here are some suggestions:

  • Take a course using Idaho’s Skillsoft subscription. You can find courses on stress reduction, management for new managers, software applications, and effective communication. There are over 500 courses available.
  • Download and read a book from The Collection: eBooks for Idaho Library Staff.  Find a number of books useful for the coming season including Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative, The Storytime Handbook: A Full Year of Themed Program, with Crafts and Snacks, Uplifing Leadership: How Organizations, Teams, and Communities Raise Performance, Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference, and so many more.
  • Read up about the Reilience trend. Learn why this trend matters in libraries and how it is developing. Or, read about any of the other trends identified by ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries.
  • Explore the information about the Computers in Libraries 2018 conference taking place April 17-19 in Arlington, Virginia, with its Library Leaders Summit and Internet @ Schools Track.  If you’ve never been to a Computers in Libraries event, this is a great consideration for a 1st Time Conference Attendance grant through the CE Grants program.
  • Review the latest issue of Low Hanging Fruit. This one-page newsletter targets teachers, but has useful information about tools of value through school libraries and any library serving K12 students. Last month focused on the Joys of Gamification and this month will address picture books for National Picture Book Month.