Embedded Files
Stop Fanning the Flames of Burnout:
Session Time: 1:00- 2:00 PM
The cost of employee burnout to organizations is significant. Burnout is associated with increased errors, high turnover, absenteeism, decreased productivity, and a decrease in the quality of patron services (Davis, 2021, p. 11). According to recent research, symptoms of burnout are common in academic librarians in the United States (Wood, 2020; Nardine, 2019). Conditions of burnout include "feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one's job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy" (WHO, 2019). These symptoms undermine the academic librarians' personal wellbeing and their ability to engage with their work in a way that maximizes their positive impact.
In today's work environment, employers are beginning to recognize the importance of job satisfaction and psychological well-being. The recent Great Resignation appears to have been motivated not by a lack of financial remuneration, but by "ethical, cultural, relational, and personal factors" (Kusior, 2022, p. 7). Certain workplace policies and characteristics are closely tied to burnout. Andrea Baer discusses the importance of agency for instructional librarians in her 2021 article. Paula Davis (2021) points to the need for psychological safety, autonomy, belonging, and feelings of competence. Library administration can use this research to create programs that encourage positive, engaging work environments.
Today's evolving workplaces should consider adding innovative programs to increase academic librarians' job satisfaction and efficacy. The presenters want to highlight practices that combat burnout and lead to engaged employees. This presentation will provide an overview of characteristics that lead to burnout, practices and techniques that combat burnout, and narratives from practicing librarians and library staff on their experiences. Our ultimate goal is to provide information for creating a workplace environment where employees can thrive and produce the best possible outcomes for the organization.
Speaker(s):
Margaret Dawson
Michelle Shea
Victoria Eastes
Kelly Williams
Sandra Desjardins
Campus:
TAMU-CT
Speaker Bio(s):
Margaret Dawson has spent 23 years working in academic and joint-use libraries. She has a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman's University. From 2014 to 2021, she worked at Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, Texas as an Outreach and Instruction Librarian, and has developed programs for university students, their children, and the general public. She is currently the Co-Head of Public Services and Outreach.
Michelle Shea; m.shea@tamuct.edu; 254-519-5481;Michelle Shea, MLS, M.Ed. is an Education Librarian and Co-Head of Public Services at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Since 2018, her duties include liaison work with the College of Education and College of Business Administration, programming for children and adults, reference instruction across disciplines, and active service on university committees. She enjoys writing about student-centered services, library instruction, and community connections.
Victoria Eastes; veastes@tamuct.edu; 254-519-5499; Victoria Eastes, MLS, MA, is the University Archivist at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Joining the university in May 2016, she currently manages collections for the university's archives and the Central Texas Historical Archive. In addition, she works with the Graduate School as the Thesis Office liaison, teaches a course on archives with the College of Arts and Sciences, and serves as the reference librarian and subject liaison for history and political science. Her professional interests include improving accessibility for digital archives, preservation and conservation techniques, emergency preparedness cultural institutions, and copyright law as it relates to primary documents and other archival materials.
Kelly Williams; k.williams@tamuct.edu;254-519-5702; Kelly Williams has a Master of Science in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University-Central Texas and a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Texas. She's spent most of her library career working in the technical services departments of academic libraries but recently made a change to reference and instruction. She is currently a reference and instruction librarian at Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
Sandra Desjardins; sandra.desjardins@tamuct.edu; 254-519-5798; Sandra Yvette Desjardins has a MS in Counseling Psychology, an MA in English, an MLS, and she will complete her PhD in Community Psychology in 2024. She has spent her library career in circulation services and enjoys presenting on and assisting with health, wellness, and outreach programs.
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