Spreading Joy at the Public Library
Public libraries have always been about more than books, programs, or technology. They are about creating a welcoming, comforting, and safe space where people can gather and connect. They are a place where connections are made and where anyone can visit without spending money or placing expectations upon them. Library workers are there to help. They know their regular customers, many of whom visit frequently. People who work in public libraries are committed to providing personal and impactful customer service. There are challenges, to be sure, but library staff are committed to making a difference in their communities through building relationships and providing access to tools and resources that will support and enrich the lives of their customers.
When the Covid pandemic hit in early 2020, the realization that staff and customers could not gather safely hit hard. In short, customers and staff were afraid of each other, and unsure of the future. How would public libraries continue to serve our communities when people couldn’t even be together? Virtual programs and services, curbside, and digital books sufficed for a while, but it wasn’t the same.
The US Surgeon General’s 2023 report An Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation detailed a crisis of separation that started even before the pandemic but was exacerbated by the crisis. It states that one remedy is looking for “physical elements of a community (such as libraries, parks, green spaces, and playgrounds) that support the development of social connection.” As the pandemic receded and libraries opened fully, library workers started to feel more comfortable being with people, and, with relief, customers gradually returned to the library.
Library workers are finding the joy in library work they have missed over the past few years. What is more joyous than finding that book you read as a child and sharing it with your kids? Or finding just the right story that pulls on your heartstrings or takes you on an adventure? Sometimes, it’s a song in storytime that brings on a smile or a chance to learn about a fantastic wine or how to fix a car. Not to mention getting help with a resume to get a great new job or talking to a social worker who can help a person get back on their feet when times are tough. Sometimes, it’s as simple as finding a warm place on a cold night or a respite from the heat and humidity.
Librarian Mychal Threets of Fairfield, California became an internet and social media sensation when he began spreading the word about joy in libraries. He celebrated “library kids” and told stories about his days welcoming everyone to his library and making them feel happy to be there. His unconventional approach and enthusiasm were hard to resist. Library joy was contagious, and his many social media followers, even those outside the library community, were attracted to his positive message and kind approach. Mychal the Librarian, as he is known, also talks a lot about his own mental health and how important it is to take care of ourselves when doing public service work. His approach of focusing on the joy in everyday occurrences and letting people know they are noticed and appreciated is a much-needed message in the library community.
Librarian Rebecca Hass, Programming and Outreach Manager at Anne Arundel County Public Library in Maryland, has embraced the library joy concept by documenting how joy can impact a person’s day. In her soon-to-be-published book 101 Seeds for Library Joy (2024, ALA Editions), she gives readers many examples of where to find joy at the library. When asked about her reasons for writing the book, she says, “I started my company, ‘Joy Work’, during the pandemic. I recognized that the positive psychology approaches I had been studying, practicing, and sharing at work significantly impacted our resilience during that very difficult time. These weren’t big things – they were the little things helping build our connection and increase our individual and collective joy.”
At Hass’s presentation at the 2023 ALA Conference, “Building Joy-Centric Libraries,” she shared some of the tips that have helped bring joy back to her library days.
Here are some examples:
- Feeling burned out, dispirited, or just plain blah? Plant a whole lot of joy at your library, looking for sparks of color, fun or inspiration.
- Reminisce about a book that you’ve enjoyed and why. Post a book recommendation in a workroom or share it with a coworker.
- Encourage someone new to libraries today – a library student, new library user, coworker, or community partner.
Hass quickly realized that the tips she was sharing were impactful. Her colleagues were eager to hear the message of positivity and get the tools to embrace and share the library joy. She started bringing joy to team and library leadership meetings. Encouraging staff to talk to each other about how they find joy at work led to new connections between colleagues and improved morale. Staff started doing small things like putting up sparkle lights around their workstations, adding a favorite superhero figurine or fun screen saver, or finding other ways to brighten their work environment. These personal touches lifted their spirits and helped them center themselves, especially if work was extra challenging that day. Staff also started sending memes to each other when they saw something inspiring, interesting, or just fun. Having an intentional conversation about adding joy to their library work allowed them to do it as part of their daily routine. She also started receiving requests from outside partners, which led to a ‘Joy Seeds’ presentation for the media specials at the local school system before classes started and to other libraries in Maryland and beyond.
Hass says, “Library joy is more than a feeling; it is a choice and call to everyday practices of connection, empowerment, and wellbeing. And it isn’t a heavy lift—in fact, it can all start with a few tiny seeds.” The reminders to embrace joy in public library work, and work in general, is a welcome perspective that has been greeted with enthusiasm. There are many opportunities to find joy and let the seeds grow by just taking a few minutes to look for it and share it!
Tags: libraryjoy
