Building Workplace Camaraderie Through Library Employee Programming

ABSTRACT

Employees at libraries of all types are looking for ways to form and strengthen relationships between colleagues who may be physically and socially disconnected after a period of remote work or staff turnover. At East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library, some library faculty and staff formed a committee to plan monthly events to encourage community among library employees. Events have included craft and poetry workshops, music and book discussions, potlucks, and professional development sessions. Recommendations to the reader for planning similar events include considering accessibility and scheduling, drawing from local talent and resources, and experimenting with a variety of activities. The committee’s efforts have strengthened relationships among library employees, improved leadership skills for early career librarians, and inspired new outreach projects to engage the campus community.

KEYWORDS:

• Arts and humanities
• belongingness
• collaboration
• mental health
• professional development
• team building
• wellness
• workplace culture

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Lydia Gwyn, Jonathan Wilson, Tifany Watson, Jacob Bilek, Carol Boles, and Sara Maeve Whisnant for their work as members of the Sherrod Library Training and Development Committee. Many thanks to Sherrod Library administration for their support in these endeavors and to everyone who has attended our events for their open-minded and enthusiastic participation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).