Sign up for a zoom link to join other Mindful Librarians on 2/17/21 at 1 PM EST to talk about what is keeping us well as we continue to operate personally and professionally in a pandemic. Come to listen–come to share (a book, website, practice that you resonate with)..All are welcome. Sign Up: https://forms.gle/eCMbEdRxRmx8UMyf9
Check out the new Bibliotherapy page on my website:
The benefits of mindfulness have been demonstrated in a variety of settings, and it has been utilized in different types of therapies for decades. From Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in the 1970s to newer incarnations such as Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), there is much to be gained from mindfulness-based treatments. This poster will touch on the major aspects of mindfulness as a therapeutic element and explore what this means for librarians as we focus both on self-care and the application of contemplative practices, helping participants to gain a better understanding of self-reflective activities.
The Child & Community Well-Being committee just released its latest resource (with Luke’s help). The one-page CSLP Summer Meals Talking Points flyer includes brief talking points and a quick to-do checklist. It’s an easy-to-digest introduction for summer meals advocates to share with coworkers, library administration, Board, community officials, and prospective partners. It’s now available for download on the CSLP website. Find it on the Libraries and Summer Food resource list here:
Whatever summer 2021 is going to look like, meal sites will be needed, and state administering agencies for the Summer Food Service Program are going to start recruiting any minute now. Please consider sharing the Talking Points flyer with your libraries, and let them know there’s much more support and info in the CSLP Libraries and Summer Food how-to guide.
NNLM has a new page with resources for public libraries. The page features health information, programming, collections, and other resources specifically for public library staffs. The landing page features recorded webinars they have hosted on conducting virtual health programming. NNLM Health Resources for Public Librarieshttps://nnlm.gov/national/guides/publibs
I am currently working on the kick-off for a year-long project of mine in 2021.
It is currently called Let’s Celebrate. I may change that but what won’t change is the Celebrate. What does it mean to celebrate?
verb
Acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.
After 2020–we NEED more joy, happiness and fun. Each month I will be focusing on some National Celebration Month or Days and suggest some program ideas. If you have a favorite book, activity or program for a particular month or day you would like to share with me–I thank you!
Here is a picture I saw and have permission to share that came from my friend Kimberly Usselman from the Cumberland Public Library in Rhode Island. They are celebrating Dinovember at CPL and some Dinosaurs came in for a library card. Are you celebrating Dinovember at your library?
Perhaps this would be a great time to hold a De-stressing Program. Who can you partner with in your community to offer a meditation, yoga or mindfulness program? Can you raise awareness to services available to help people in your community to de-stress? How about flyers to resources at your library that promote well-being? Maybe some aromatherapy bookmarks or stress-ball take & make kits might be helpful right now? I don’t need to tell you how many DIY stress ball & mindfulness jar ideas there are on Pinterest.
Colleges are great inspiration for de-stressing programs. I saw one college advertise Donuts & Dogs to de-stress at finals. While this idea might have to wait to a time when we can gather once again, you can easily transfer Spa Day DIYs and Coloring Clubs to online and make and takes.
One thing this year has taught us is how important outreach and collaboration is–libraries can and should be much more than just a place. Even if your patrons are unable to come into your library in the same way they have in the past, your library can still share resources and host programs that will leave them saying, “That was Just What I Needed”.
Visit the Choose Love Movement website above to access the communities program for a free program to create a more loving and peaceful community. Promote living a life filled with ‘Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action’.
-Presentations about the National Runaway Prevention Month for the community, social media posts and more. https://www.1800runaway.org/nrpm/
-Runaway Prevention Curriculum. “a free, evidence-based, interactive, 14 module curriculum intended to educate young people about alternatives to running away as well as to build life skills so that youth can resolve problems without resorting to running away or unsafe behavior.”
1 in 10 young adults (age 18 to 25) and 1 in 30 minors (age 13-17) experienced unaccompanied homelessness in a one-year period. This translates to approximately 3.5 million young adults and 700,000 minors (Morton et al, 2017)
