An illustration of equity

 

Leading a team - suggestions from author Nataly Kogan

 As a leader, you’re not managing people. You’re managing energy, emotions, and attention.

And you can help your team focus their energy and attention in ways that fuel their thriving (and reduce struggle).

These 3 questions are a great place to begin:

1. What would it take to make today great vs just OK?

2. What is draining your energy and how could you do it less (and how could I help?)

3. How does the work you are doing help others?

A word about motivation from author Nataly Kogan

 From Nataly Kogan, author of happier now and The Awesome Human Project:

Don't try to motivate your team.  Instead, do things that fuel motivation:

• express gratitude consistently
• ensure that the workload is reasonable
• regularly talk about the purpose in the work
• brainstorm how to add joy to work
• make fueling energy and taking breaks a priority

Motivation is an outcome, a result of other things.  Trying to motivate someone is like trying to get someone to go to sleep.

Instead, focus on the inputs that fuel motivation - sense of purpose, joy, having enough energy, feeling appreciated - and motivation will naturally follow.

Workday Learning App has content!

 The "Learning" app in Workday now has content for city employees.  There are currently 10 learning programs available, and these include a program on Unconscious Bias, Navigating Challenges with Diplomacy, Stress Management, and Business Writing Fundamentals.  

Just log into Workday to participate, and look for further programs to be added to this resource.  These courses do count for continuing education, but you will need to create your own CEU forms.

MLA/DLA conference proposals due by October 8

The MLA/DLA Annual Conference will take place this year from May 10-12, 2023 in Cambridge, Maryland. The annual conference strives to build and promote a strong, engaged, knowledgeable, diverse, and inclusive library community to advance the transformational impact of library staff and libraries. MLA/DLA seeks proposals and speakers representing the full range of library organizations (academic, school, public, specialized, etc.) and positions within the library. 

Programs will be selected with an eye toward amplifying underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, religious identity, economic background, educational background, age, or other factors.

Another option for the conference is the Ignite Talks series.  What is something that you are passionate about in libraries that you tell us about in 10 minutes? Ignite Talks can look like storytelling, a how-to, or a research share – anything that sparks interest. Ignite Talks are a great opportunity to try presenting for the first time, to share experience or lessons learned, or to make your colleagues laugh with an entertaining topic and slides. We can’t wait to hear about your passions!

Please consider submitting a proposal using this form (https://forms.gle/K5HwKz3J3gE57xge9) and sharing it with colleagues.   If you have any questions, you can email kelsey.hughes@hclibrary.org or md.la.conference@gmail.com. 

All proposals will be due by October 8.

Commitment to others makes the team work

 A short video with an interesting approach to who "makes it" on a team.  Leadership, service to others on the team, and commitment.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yBgGG2G9Zyk

MLA/DLA Annual Conference 2022 - Law on the Frontlines: A Great Refresher!

Law on the Frontlines: A Great Refresher!

Presented by Joan Belistri, Catherine McGuire, and Reena Shah

Not sure who is really behind that Maryland Self Help Law Center phone number??

At this session I was assured the callers we refer would be talking to attorneys dedicated to assisting people in low-medium income brackets navigate the legal system. When librarians refer a customer to the Self Help Law Center the volunteer attorney will be a pro bono lawyer, college or academic faculty lawyer, a lawyer from one of the Judiciary departments, Bar associations, law school clinics or other Court approved legal organizations. 

Providing Legal Information

The panel discussed current and applicable resources valuable to public library librarians and their customers. Here are some refresher highlights.

1.Instead of Black’s Dictionary the panel suggested Cornell’s Legal Terminology which allows for more flexibility. The librarian can utilize it whether addressing a patron in person, through Libchat or Libans. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex

2.Nolo.com is another common resource useful for forms, brief explanations

Legal Encyclopedia, Legal Forms, Law Books, & Software | Nolo

3.Maryland Peoples’ Law Library offers vital legal information for self litigants and Court Help on specific Law Topics. Homepage | The Maryland People's Law Library (peoples-law.org) (PLL)

The “Other Help” page relates well to the recognizable kinds of everyday law questions librarians receive by phone. https://maryland.freelegalanswers.org/OtherHelp

Providing Referrals to Other Organizations

The panel emphasized that often users are looking for help librarians cannot provide but that can be found on websites like those discussed:

• Maryland Court Law Libraries

• PLL Legal Services and Directory

• PLL includes a Maryland Legal Services Directory

Legal Services Directory | The Maryland People's Law Library (peoples-law.org). The directory

Is comprised of organizations that offer no cost or low fee based legal services such as CASA. 

• PPL Legal Clinic Calendar Legal Clinic Calendar | The Maryland People's Law Library (peoples-law.org) includes Pratt’s Lawyer in the Library and similar events throughout Maryland.

• Court Help Centers Maryland Court Help Centers | Maryland Courts (mdcourts.gov)

Likewise, the panel reiterated that librarians distinguish between what they can do: Provide information, a resource or referral that might help. Librarians cannot provide legal advice; an interpretation of a legal subject or help users fill out legal forms.

This session covers the basics and the Advancing Justice Access and Navigate Maryland Legal Information, Court Tools and Resources session provides a more in-depth look at the People's Law Library website, the State Law Library website and more.

Rose Anne Ullrich, Librarian

Information Services