Nurturing Summer Wellness: Strategies for Youth Services Librarians and Managers

María Vega

Summer brings an influx of visitors and activity to libraries. Librarians face increased programs, outreach, and extra desk duties, while maintaining a high energy and friendly public persona and managing a vibrant and safe library atmosphere.

The intensity of summer programs, extra emotional and physical labor, and increased foot traffic can lead to burnout, heightened stress levels, and exhaustion before June is even over. Summer is the most important time of year for librarians to practice self-care, both in the library and at home. Try some of the wellness tips below and find more from ALA-APA’s Importance of Wellness in the Workplace website (https://ala-apa.org/wellness/).

Disconnect and sleep well. At home, make sure to get plenty of quality sleep. Unplug and disconnect from screens and technology, especially before bedtime to improve your sleep quality. Create your perfect sleep environment—use light blocking curtains, play white noise, set a comfortable sleep temperature, do anything that makes falling asleep and staying asleep easy for you.

Recharge! Connect socially in person—with friends, family, or a community with similar interests. Take time to do what you love—and if you don’t have a hobby, explore and find one. Do what works best for you, such as meditation or exercise. Learn something new or organize something old. Focusing on something novel when you’re not at work will give your brain the break it needs to handle the demands of summer reading.

Prioritize yourself by setting clear boundaries. Don’t be afraid to say no, so you don’t feel overwhelmed at home and at work. Don’t take work home with you. One of the ways that librarians motivate themselves is vocational awe—but this also means that librarians tend to feel guilty for taking time off. Put your self-care needs first. For more information on vocational awe, visit the Califa Group Library Consortium’s website on Self-Care for Library Workers (califa.org/self-care).

Eat well, stay hydrated, and exercise. The better you care for your body, the better you can manage stressful and high energy situations. Take a day off if you need to, even during Summer Reading. One of the lessons that came out of the pandemic is that it is okay to take a mental health day. Rest if you need to and go back to work stronger.

Take breaks, eat, and stay hydrated. At work, take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and breathe. Make sure to take your allotted breaks and lunch. During these breaks, take a walk to rejuvenate, eat a nutritious meal, and stay hydrated.

Delegate, prioritize, and collaborate. Collaborate with your colleagues both in youth services and library wide. They can be a support network and help foster innovation, problem-solving, camaraderie, and positive morale. Prioritize work, and delegate tasks to volunteers, other departments, or other team members to share the workload and allow youth services staff to focus on the most essential tasks.

Set small, achievable goals, and celebrate them. Break down big tasks into smaller chunks and celebrate when you complete each chunk. Recognize small registration milestones, the end of the first week, the halfway point, staff birthdays, Fridays, anything that will keep your team motivated and energized.

Seek support if you are feeling burnt-out. Talk to a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor. At work, talk to your supervisor, human resources, or an employee assistance program.

Be kind to yourself. If you make a mistake during an overly stressful time, it’s okay. Avoid harsh self-criticism. Know that while summer is stressful, it will end. Focus on what you can control, and prioritize caring for yourself. &