Volume 20, No. 5 • May 2023 – Library Worklife:

Spotlight

Mind Your Mental Health

Most of us would agree that we are ‘on the other side’ of the pandemic. That does not mean that people will no longer be affected by COVID. It also does not mean that the high volume of people who experienced mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, etc. has diminished. All it takes is ten minutes of watching the news to see that people are struggling with mental health challenges. Some people are still grieving losses experienced during … Read the rest

Public Service Recognition Week

It’s Public Service Recognition Week, which recognizes public servants (including library workers employed by local, state, or federal governments). President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing the week.… Read the rest
Recognitions of Library Workers

Thanks to all who nominated STARS in recognition and celebration of National Library Workers Day (#NLWD23). Take a glance at the Galaxy of Stars.

Also, last week (May 7-13, 2023) was Public Service Recognition Week, which recognizes public servants (including library workers employed by local, state, or federal governments). President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing the week.

… Read the rest

‘Quiet Firing’ is No Way to Manage People

Have you ever experienced (or witnessed) a work environment where a manager makes conditions so uncomfortable that you (or someone you know) decides to quit? These conditions might include consistently being denied promotions and raises, despite hard work and accomplishments; being left out of important meetings and decisions; being given an overwhelming workload or unreasonable deadlines; and/or being subjected to discriminatory behavior or language. Rather than dealing with issues head on with constructive feedback and needed resources, some managers deny … Read the rest
Six Tips to Engage Job Candidates on Your Career Site

How easy is it for someone interested in working at your library to find open positions on your website? How many clicks does it take to get to a list of your vacant positions? Have you ever gone to your home page and tried to find the available jobs (acting as if you were a job candidate)? Was it frustrating? Does your site inspire job seekers to take the leap and apply? Or does it discourage them? This brief article… Read the rest

Perfect Time and Place to Connect

Library workers from around the world will be meeting in Chicago at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27, 2023. It’s the perfect time for employers and job seekers to connect. The Open House/Job Fair ─scheduled on Sunday, June 25, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm─ is the perfect place to have great conversations about open (or soon to be available) positions.

The ALA JobLIST Placement & Career Development Center is still accepting forms for employers who want to participate … Read the rest

5 Quick Dos and Don’ts of Salary Transparency

Over the last several decades, people have contacted staff of the American Library Association (ALA) asking that they demand and require libraries to post salary ranges in job ads. Of course, ALA staff does not possess the kind of power that would allow them to force all libraries to list salary ranges. However, the desire to see salary information in job ads has not gone away. It’s clear that job candidates and current employees want pay transparency. According to a … Read the rest

Keep the Momentum Going

Now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared an end to the COVID global health emergency, we should continue to be concerned about one another. Remember to check on your colleagues, your neighbors, your family, and friends. Don’t stop being genuinely concerned about them ─their physical and mental well-being. If you notice something might not be quite right “or off” with someone you know, ask how you can help. Employers too, should also continue to find ways to
… Read the rest

Legislative Protections for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Workers Take Effect Soon

In the January (2023) issue of Library Worklife we mentioned that President Biden had signed the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill into law on December 29, 2022. The bill included two acts that help working mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (known as the PUMP Act) were both part of the bill.

In the brief details given related to the Pregnant Workers Fairness … Read the rest

Employers Must Allow Employees to Exercise Their Organizing Rights

It is important for employers to understand their obligations and responsibilities under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The preamble to the NLRA establishes that it is the policy of the U.S. government to encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining. Consistent with that policy, Section 7 of the NLRA gives employees certain rights, and under Section 8(a), it is an unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with those rights. For example, employers may not interfere … Read the rest

Question of the Month May 2023

How did you practice self-care during the pandemic? Please take a minute to tell us by taking our 2-question survey.… Read the rest

Question #1: What should employers do to help ensure a positive candidate experience? Select all that apply.

Answer Choices	Responses
None of the above	0.00%
Make it easy for candidates to apply for jobs.	64.52%
Offer an easy and mobile-friendly application process.	25.81%
Have one responsive staff member to serve as a contact throughout the hiring process.	64.52%
Describe the hiring process in the job description and in the interview.	61.29%
Share LinkedIn profiles of interviewers before the first interview.