There’s no doubt about it. Librarianship can be a demanding career path, and the quest to find just the right work-life balance while managing stress is perennial. The eclectic collection of books below speak to that delicate balance by covering the importance of wellness, preventing burnout, practicing mindfulness, and essential self-care practices.
Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Handbook for Libraries By Bobbi L. Newman Library work culture and wellness have not always gone hand in hand. However, in the post-pandemic landscape, attention to wellness in the workplace has become more prevalent. This informative handbook takes a holistic approach to understanding the concerns of library workers in the US, addressing an array of topics such as the effect of wellness on overall productivity, ways to respond to physical space issues in the workplace, and the correlation between diversity and inclusion initiatives and wellness. These topics come with practical management-level advice aimed at gradual improvements instead of overhauling all at once. (Read an excerpt here). ALA Editions, 2022. 104 p. $49.99. PBK. 978-0-8389-3791-4.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle By Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski This excellent New York Times–bestselling self-help guide takes a scientific approach to understanding how stress manifests in women, providing evidence-based tools to help reduce that stress. The authors use two composite figures to illustrate the various aspects and ramifications of the seemingly unbreakable stress cycle. Through a narrative writing style, they engage readers with examples and practical advice for stress management. With more than 80% of librarians being women, this information will resonate with those balancing the demands of library work, family, self-care, and societal pressures of modern life. Random House, 2020. 304 p. $17. PBK. 978-1-9848-1832-4. (Also available as an ebook.)
Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian: Identity, Advocacy, and Pathways Edited by Brandon K. West and Elizabeth Galoozis In their introduction, the editors state their goal is to reach librarians who consider themselves mid-career in a variety of library settings and help them “find more comfort in a situation where guidance is often missing.” The standout chapter is “Being Your Own Advocate,” which not only explores methods of establishing peer relationships and exploring mid-career changes but also offers advice on maintaining peace of mind, avoiding burnout, and practicing self-care. This informative collection of perspectives provides tips on maintaining work-life balance that can be beneficial to library workers at all stages of their career. (Read an excerpt here). ACRL, 2023. 358 p. $92. PBK. 978-0-8389-3941-3.
The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work By Simone Stolzoff Librarianship is more than a job or a profession; it can be tied to identity. Though there are many positives to that notion—passion for the work, for example—there is always the danger that life can be subsumed by work. Through more than 100 captivating interviews with workers across the economic spectrum, from bankers to kayak guides, Stolzoff examines how work-life balance has become so skewed toward work that many Americans are losing valuable components of their lives. Each interview breaks down long-held myths about work defining a person’s value and provides fascinating insights into how important it is to reclaim one’s life and strike that seemingly elusive balance. These intriguing observations will resonate with librarians. Portfolio, 2023. 272 p. $28. 978-0-5935-3896-8. (Also available as an ebook.)
Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance By Michael Stephens This second collection of blog posts and essays by Stephens could easily be part of a librarian’s personal self-care routine. Wholehearted Librarianship is imbued with positive insights on inspiration, camaraderie, and finding balance in library work, accumulated over the course of the author’s several decades in the profession. Many sentiments shared in this collection are timeless gems. For example, “Libraries need to encourage the heart in the physical realm as well as online,” written almost 20 years ago, could easily have been written today. The selections in this collection will inspire reflection and reinvigoration. ALA Editions, 2019. 128 p. $49.99. PBK. 978-0-8389-1906-4.
Curating Your Life: Ending the Struggle for Work-Life Balance By Gail Golden Curation is a familiar concept to many librarians; we curate collections, programs, and reading lists. According to Golden, it is also possible to curate one’s life to achieve a happy work-life balance. Beginning with the directive to identify your values and proceeding through the clearly defined chapters that follow, the book guides readers through the process of life curation, with the end goal of shifting focus from managing time to managing energy. Populated with case studies and executable ideas, the format and style are accessible and appealing. The curation concept and framework that are explored and explained will appeal to librarians of all stripes. Rowman & Littlefield, 2022. 208 p. $20. PBK. 978-1-5381-7631-3. (Also available as an ebook.)
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