PDA Event: We're All in this Together: Developing and Sustaining a Thriving Access Services Department
Academic Access Services departments are often overwhelmed with urgent daily demands that can undermine core principles, long term goals, and strategic initiatives. Losing the forest for the trees in this way can contribute to burnout, staff and student employee turnover, low morale, delays in service, and poor customer service. This session explores a strategic approach to leadership to nurture a thriving and sustainable work environment. Using real-world examples this presentation will demonstrate how intentional collaboration, self-reflection, and compassionate conflict resolution not only avoids common pitfalls, but creates an environment for individual and collective wellbeing and growth. After learning about the real-world examples, attendees will work through a guided self-reflection exercise to apply what they learned to meet needs and challenges at their home institutions.
This webinar is appropriate for anyone serving in a supervisory role at an academic library, including support staff who supervise student employees.
Presenter:
Catherine Paolillo is the Head of Access & Outreach Services Librarian at the University of San Diego's (USD) Copley Library. She earned her BA in visual arts from CSU Chico and a MLIS and MS Art History from the Pratt Institute. In her role as Department Head she oversees circulation, resource sharing, course reserves, day to day building operations, and the department's vital student assistant program. She is also responsible for the library's social media presence, organizing outreach events such as the annual Banned Books Week celebration, and supporting other library marketing efforts. In her role as a tenure-track faculty librarian, Catherine serves on several library committees, is the liaison to USD's first-generation students, produces original research, and contributes to the profession through professional development and service opportunities outside of USD.
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