Conference on Academic Library Management

By combining two action-based philosophies which may be new to some participants, Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and Constructive Living (CL), we present a unique person-centered framework that offers recommendations for improving organizational culture, work-life balance, time management, and burnout in academic libraries. These strategies for regaining perspective and balance occur at a pace wholly determined by the individual, require little training, no expense, and may result in renewed motivation, increased calm, and less reactivity at the individual level and—with transformational leadership—at the organizational level.

The TIC framework examines policies, processes, and procedures within organizations like libraries with an understanding that we all experience trauma which may be carried into our daily exchanges with others in the workplace. Using a TIC lens, we define and discuss the six pillars of TIC: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support and mutual help; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment voice and choice; and cultural, historical, and gender issues.

CL is an action-based philosophy for reframing individual response to everyday situations. Intensely practical and applicable to the workplace, this simple, self-directed method allows for slow but steady, enduring change in individual habits, behavior, and thoughts. CL restores order and progress in the midst of chaos and despair, defuses emotional response, and re-establishes personal perspective.

We will provide a baseline of both philosophies, followed by options for administrators to introduce the framework; model behavior; and design a responsive environment to sustain positive change.