How can you be more adaptable in a library setting?

One thing I've found helpful in excelling at library management is adopting a mindset akin to Jeff Bezos' principles. Distinguishing decisions as either "two-way doors," easily reversible for swift experimentation, or "one-way doors," demanding careful consideration due to irreversibility, fosters adaptability. For library professionals, this mindset facilitates seamless navigation through dynamic changes. Stay attuned to emerging technologies and evolving user needs, cultivating a culture of continual learning. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, viewing setbacks as valuable lessons.

In my experience, it can be hard to let go. As librarians, we can complete any library related task, but just because we can do this does not mean we should. Remember you are not the only librarian in the library and there are others there to support you. I have often felt the impulse to be the expert in children's, teens, fiction and non-fiction just because I was the only staff member in the library on some occasions. The problem that you may be experiencing is the self imposed push to fix the library all by yourself, but leaning on your co-workers is essential to having a flexible mindset, as well as cultivating a positive workplace at the library.

Change can be very scary because it’s filled with so many “what if’s” and unknowns, but as a librarian I know that no two days will ever look the same. I have no idea what I’m going to experience each day that I step into the library! It eases a lot of anxiety when you realize that those unknowns are already something you deal with and are quite accustomed to. Now all you have to do is scale up that attitude and any major shifts, changes, or new experiences won’t seem so daunting!

Stay Informed Be Proactive Know your library and patrons Assume yourself as your library patron and you will find umpteen opportunities for improvements

Over the years and as an experienced librarian, I have come to appreciate the need for continuous learning for librarians. One needs to be widely read in order to have a glimpse of understanding of what different patrons inquire about. One also needs to train on emotional intelligence to be able to handle different patrons especially the difficult ones. Other skills that are a must-have include critical thinking, interpersonal, technology, research etc.

Feedback from library users provides the opportunity for user satisfaction and effectiveness of library operations, and more importantly, helps in continuous improvement as a Library professional.

I usually have an open mind. Also, I need learning more abilities to talk with my own colleagues and to teach my users. For this, I read on line news; I search information about courses about cataloguing, about users training. So, I take advantage when I see an official and free courses on line. If you work in Spain, I recommend to do courses with SEPE, or Federación Madrile?a de Municipios. These last has short courses, but I considered very important. You can learn about real experiences in others libraries by chatting with librarians.

En este sentido creo que muchos queremos innovar o poner en práctica nuestra creatividad. Sin embargo, nos vemos limitados en aplicar nuevas herramientas o actividades que atraigan a la gente. I think that many professionals like innovate and use our creativity but it is something difficult. We are limited by money and governments to use new tools in use.

Diversity and collaboration have become buzz words that have been used in many contexts and their political context can throw some people off. At its core, diversity is necessary at the library. An example of this in my own work experience is when a patron asked for recommendations on westerns. I had never read a western in my life, but I knew my coworker had been a life long reader. Admitting that I was not the best librarian for the job, I asked my coworker to switch tasks with me, so I went in the back to check in the holds, while she assisted finding a good western. This does require that you get to know your coworkers beyond just the basics, but it will lead to a thriving collaborative workplace.

Les pratiques de lecture évoluent avec le temps. M'est avis que l'on lit toujours autant mais que nous lisons différemment que par le passé. Il faut désormais prendre en considération les lectures numériques : liseuses, Wattpad, WebToon, scans, etc.

Considero que tengo una mente abierta. Pero creo que es importante aprender habilidades para hablar con nuestros compa?ero y buscar otros cursos sobre catalogación o formación de usuarios. En mi caso, yo suelo recomendar hacerlos con el SEPE o la Federación Madrile?a de Municipios. Estos últimos son cortos pero muy importantes. Permiten a través del chat la retroalimentación y aprender de experiencias reales.

Ask for cross-training in different areas and departments. The more skills you are adept at, the more valuable you are to the organization.