Proposals - Library 2.021 Reinventing Libraries Covid

Your Name and Title: Molly Virello, Head of Children's Services

Library, School, or Organization Name: Southington Public Library & Museum

Co-Presenter Name(s): None

Area of the World from Which You Will Present: CT, USA

Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience(s): All librarians returning to work after the pandemic, with a focus on public librarians.

Short Session Description (one line): Returning to working with the public can be overwhelming after being remote for so long, but can be more managable with these tips.

Full Session Description (as long as you would like): 
When coming back to the library after the COVID-19 pandemic, many people, not just librarians, felt anxious after working remotely for so long. There are feelings of anger, fear, and the unknown, not to mentioned relearning how to interact with people again. Many library workers wanted to remain remote, as they had demonstrated that they could do the majority of their jobs from anywhere, and they expressed  extreme frustration at being called back from their new normal. For many people, having the convenience of rolling out of bed and straight “into the office” was great, so returning to a traditional 9 to 5, interacting with people, and enduring a commute might take an adjustment. 

Dealing with change and the unknown can be scary, but coming in with a plan will make moving back to on-site work a more manageable process. Luckily, quite a few of the tips, tricks, and items that we will discuss will likely have been utalized if you were working from home, and can translate smoothly to your return to the library - from departmental and library-wide communication techniques, to comfort items, to safety protocols, no stone will be left unturned. 

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