Professional Resource Discussion Group

The upcoming session of the Professional Resource Discussion group will focus on giving and receiving feedback. The Professional Resource Discussion group is an informal conversation-style meeting where library workers can come together to discuss topics that impact our work. The Continuing Education Committee has curated a selection of resources for attendees to read and listen to prior to the discussion, however there is no requirement that you do so to attend. The resources are meant to get you thinking about the topic. Bring your thoughts, questions and additional resources you find helpful!

Written Resources:

• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High - Book
• Giving Feedback? Don't Make These 10 Mistakes - Article
• 20 Questions Managers Should Ask Employees for Feedback - Article
• Receiving and Giving Effective Feedback - Article

Additional Suggested Podcasts and Videos:

• Don't Sweat the Difficult Conversations - Podcast
• I'm Bad at Taking Feedback - Podcast
• Feedback Without the Drama - Podcast
• Growing Through Conflict - Video

The upcoming session of the Professional Resource Discussion group will focus on working with friends groups. The Professional Resource Discussion group is an informal conversation-style meeting where library workers can come together to discuss topics that impact our work. The Continuing Education Committee has curated a selection of resources for attendees to read and listen to prior to the discussion, however there is no requirement that you do so to attend. The resources are meant to get you thinking about the topic. Bring your thoughts, questions and additional resources you find helpful!

Resources:
- 9 Friends Group Best Practices - Article
- Everybody Needs a Friend: the Value of Friends Groups to Libraries - Presentation Slides
- Boost Your Biggest Supporters: Branding and Marketing Advice for Your Friends of the Library Group - Video

Additional Suggested Reading:
- The good, the great, and the unfriendly: A librarian's guide to working with Friend groups by Sally Gardner Reed
- All ages welcome : recruiting and retaining younger generations for library boards, friends groups, and foundations by Lisa Bertinello, Madeline Jarvis, Kathy Kosinski, and Tess Wilson
- Library Friends Zone - Website with resources and connections
- Friends and Foundations | IFLS Library System - Collection of general resources
- Friends of the Library: Tools and resources - Collection of resources and trainings
- United for Libraries Resources for Friends Groups - Collection of toolkits, ideas, and resources

This session of the Professional Resource Discussion group will focus on relationships in the workplace. The Professional Resource Discussion group is an informal conversation-style meeting where library workers can come together to discuss topics that impact our work. The next PRDG will focus on relationships in the workplace. The Continuing Education Committee has selected two resources for attendees to read and listen to prior to the discussion, however there is no requirement that you do so to attend. The resources are meant to get you thinking about the topic. Bring your thoughts, questions and additional resources you find helpful on this topic.

Relationships at Work Podcast
Receiving and Giving Effective Feedback (article)

Our Fall 2023 discussion will take place on the last day of the 2023 ARSL Conference! Whether you're attending the conference virtually or in person, you'll be able to participate in a discussion.

Did you learn about a new resource during the ARSL Conference? Is there an idea you learned about that you plan to implement once you return? Join the ARSL Continuing Education Committee for an in-person session of the Professional Resource Discussion Group! Bring a resource and/or idea that you learned about during the conference to share with other attendees and walk away from this session with new resources and ideas to utilize once you return to your library.

Our next session of the Professional Resource Discussion Group will focus on burnout. Read, listen to, and watch the resources below and come to one of the two sessions for an interactive discussion.

Library Leadership Podcast: Slow Librarianship
Burnout is About Your Workplace, Not Your People
Rekindling from Burnout Webinar
Libraries Transforming Communities Sustaining Yourself Worksheet

Everyone, regardless of ARSL membership status, is invited to join us on March 29th, 2022 for our inaugural professional development book club: an interactive discussion of Rebekkah Smith Aldrich’s landmark book Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World.

Sustainability may seem like a “pie-in-the-sky” idea, suitable only for larger libraries with bigger budgets to contemplate. However, much of sustainable thinking and action already takes place within the walls and communities of small libraries. As Smith Aldrich states, “How fortuitous for us all that what the world needs most right now is what libraries are already very good at.” How can we leverage our skills and our knowledge to create and support thriving and resilient communities? 

Smith Aldrich’s book is available for purchase in the ALA Store. The book is also available on Overdrive.