Program Description

We are exhausted. Incidents and stressful interactions in libraries continue to drastically rise. We may not be able to change the external forces we face, but we can build intersectional supportive models to care for our staff. Pima County Public Library began the process of reshaping our work culture into a trauma informed model to help our staff rebuild and heal. Join us to hear the challenges we've faced and what has worked for us.

Learning Outcome 1: Understand basic, key components of trauma informed principles and practices in supporting staff

Learning Outcome 2: Learn how to acquire and use critical data from library staff to drive trauma informed model decision-making

Learning Outcome 3: Empower participants to implement staff support methods utilized by PCPL at other library systems

Presenter Bios

Linde Furman is a Branch Manager at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library of Pima County Public Library. Her greatest passion is her work in the realm of trauma informed care in public libraries, especially as relates to supporting staff. She leads an initiative and system-wide team that focus on creating support structures to assist staff in processing and recovering from secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and primary trauma resulting from workplace incidents and stressors.

Em DeMeester-Lane (he/they) has over 15 years experience in public libraries and currently work in Administration as a Library Services Manager for Pima County Public Library. His professional work is centered in youth advocacy, restorative practices as well as issues of equity in libraries and serving vulnerable populations. Em believes fiercely that all staff deserve to feel safe at work and that begins with being heard by their manager and administrative teams.

S2 Stronger Together Pres SHAREABLE DOC.pdf

S2 Stronger Together - Anonymous Digital Survey.pdf

S2 Stronger Together - Staff Professional Development Book Set Purchase List.pdf