Librarians, It's Time To Get Woke

01/13/21 • 18 min

Last Wednesday, January 6 2021, was a dark day in our country's history. We all witnessed the horrifying assault on our Capitol building by an angry mob of, let's face it, mostly White Trump supporters.

As I watched that grim and frightening scene unfold, I, as many of you couldn't help but note the difference in how these violent insurrectionists were treated as they forced entry into our Capitol Building - while Congress was in session - and how the mostly Black and peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters were treated this summer.

And I know there has been a lot of discussion around that in the media over the last week.

As I watched that, I was utterly appalled, and I was deeply ashamed.

The truth is that if certain White men- who I won't name because they don't deserve the publicity, but wearing ridiculous headdresses and standing at the podium of the Senate, or propping their dirty feet on the desk of the Speaker of the House - if those men had been Black, they never would have made it that far.

At best, they would have been tear gassed, thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

At worst, well, they might have been shot multiple times before they even reach the steps.

And that makes my heart so sad, and heavy.

And it also and more importantly, prods me to work harder on getting Woke, than I have.

And what I want to talk about today, librarians, is how crucial it is for all of us who are White, to take on that hard, but imperative work of waking up to what life is like and has been like for our our fellow citizens, who are African American or people of color indigenous.

Because life is very different for them.
For complete show notes, visit masterfullibrarian.com/ep-6

And I know there has been a lot of discussion around that in the media over the last week.

As I watched that, I was utterly appalled, and I was deeply ashamed.

At best, they would have been tear gassed, thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

At worst, well, they might have been shot multiple times before they even reach the steps.

And that makes my heart so sad, and heavy.

And it also and more importantly, prods me to work harder on getting Woke, than I have.

Because life is very different for them.
For complete show notes, visit masterfullibrarian.com/ep-6

Previous Episode

Small Steps Toward Big Library Impact

Welcome and thanks for joining me in the new year. Today’s episode is short and it’s the first in my new series, Small Steps to Big Impact. You can find the show notes at masterfullibrarian.com/ep-5.

At this time of year, most of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions and new goals for the coming year. But according to popular literature, and a study done by Scranton University researchers in the late 1980’s, at least 80% of those resolutions fail.

If you’re like most dedicated librarians, you’ve got clear goals for achieving more impact with your library’s services and programs. But what can you do to keep your goals from becoming a sad statistic?

Take one small step.

What trips most of us up and sets us up for failure is looking at the whole process and then becoming overwhelmed by how much there is to do. For some of us, that keeps us from even getting started.

In his masterful book titled One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way, Robert Maurer shares the ancient Japanese concept of kaizen, which is using small steps to achieve large goals.

According to Maurer, this approach is conveyed in the ancient text the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu when he states “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

And it’s a remarkably effective technique. It’s easy and non-threatening and leads actually to continuous improvement. It’s been used in Japan and around the world for decades, both by corporations and by individuals to effective achieve both major and minor goals.
For complete show notes and resources, go to masterfullibrarian.com/ep-5

Next Episode

Library Career Pivot: Leaving the Profession

Welcome! It’s good to have you with me today.

Have you felt recently that being a librarian wasn’t as satisfying as it once was? Or have you perhaps felt the lure of other professions calling you? Or perhaps, like many of us, have you lost your library job and are now thinking it might be fulfilling to try a new field?

If so, you’re not alone and it’s perfectly ok. In today’s episode, I’m going to give some tips and winning strategies for making a career pivot out of the library profession. This is the first in my series called “Library Career Pivot”. I’m also providing a list of great career shift resources. You can find that list and the complete show notes at masterfullibrarian.com/ep7.

Not that I want any of you to leave libraries – but sometimes it happens.

My hope is that if you’re looking at pursuing a new field, it’s voluntary on your part. And not because you’ve been laid off, furloughed, or threatened with lay-offs. I hope it’s simply because you’re ready for a new adventure.

There’s no shame in feeling drawn to do something new. I myself am on my sixth significant career iteration. I’ve been a hotel sales rep, a medical librarian, a travel agent, a school librarian, a public librarian, and now a coach, consultant and trainer.

In her book, I Don’t Know What I Want, But I know its Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work”, 3rd edition, Julie Jansen says this “There is no age limit on searching for happiness and fulfillment in work and life”. I love this quote. I love it because it’s so true.

If you’re feeling like now is the time to pursue a new career interest, I’d like to offer some tips to get you started.
For complete show notes, join me at Masterful Librarian Podcast/ep7