Navigating Chaotic Waters: Adjusting to New Working Circumstances during a Pandemic

1. Navigating chaotic
waters:
Adjusting to new working circumstances during a pandemic
Heather Fisher, Metadata / Catalog Librarian and Liaison Librarian,
Saginaw Valley State University
April 22, 2020
1

2. Housekeeping
 1: Thank you to the Music Library Association and ALA Publishing for
working to get this webinar available to everyone for free.
 2: This is being recorded and you will get a link to the recording in the
near future.
 3: The Music Library Association will be posting the recording to their
website. Please share only what you are comfortable with sharing
knowing this recording will be public.
 4: The content of this webinar is based on my personal experience and
shouldn’t be used in place of professional medical and psychological
advice. 2

3. Learning objectives
 Identify and name the emotions you’re feeling;
 Identify coping mechanisms; and
 Understand we really are all in this together.
3

4. Types of stress
4

5. Acute stress is…
 Very short-lived.
 The most commonly suffered form of stress.
 Known to cause sudden increase in heart rate and shallow breathing.
 Example: A database vendor crashes during finals week.
5

6. Episodic acute stress is…
 Acute stress, but for longer period of time.
 Known to cause increased risk of cardiovascular issues, weight loss or
gain, and insomnia.
 Known to make pre-existing conditions worse.
 Example: This. Michigan librarians are starting week six of working in
light of restrictions from COVID-19.
6

7. Chronic stress is…
 Seemingly never-ending.
 A significant increase in risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke,
dangerous coping behaviors.
 Example: My institution’s two-year-long mass weed and renovation.
7

8. Burnout is…
 Different than stress.
 When you feel you and the profession do not matter or make a
difference.
 When people leave the profession.
8

9. TELECOMMUTING, FURLOUGHS, AND
ZOOM MEETINGS, OH MY!
9

10. What do we do with libraries?
 Closures need(ed) to be determined.
 Closed to the public only? vs. Closed completely?
 Do people work from home?
 What about people whose jobs are not easily transferrable to
remote work?
 What about staff / patrons who rely on the library for internet
access or equipment?
 What about our materials out on loan?
 What do we do if students need materials from our physical
collection we can’t get in e-format for classes?
10

11. Data from www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus - Updated 4/20/20
COVID-19 in Michigan

12. Six weeks in the life…
 March 10: Michigan has its first two cases of COVID-19. Universities
begin stating they will move to online instruction within a week’s
time.
 March 16: My institution issues directive to have staff that can work
remotely beginning no later than March 18.
 March 23: Shelter in place order begins and will last until April 13.
 “Libraries and museums” specifically included in the order.
 April 13: Shelter in place order is tightened and extended to April 30.
12

13. So what about if you’re still open?
 According to the CDC, COVID-19 is in each state and the territories
that have chosen to report any info to the CDC.
 PPE is in short supply for many localities.
 Patrons don’t always follow the guidelines.
 Curbside service does still offer an opportunity to spread the virus.
 ALA, ACRL, and many state library organizations have called for
libraries to close.
13

14. What about us?
 Working from home
 We are in a completely different routine.
 There are new “coworkers” (both four-legged and two-legged).
 We are dealing with an extended period of time away from
students and/or patrons.
 For many staff in hot spots, you’re not going to see some of
your patrons or students again.
 How much space do you have?
 The walls are closing in for those in small spaces.
14

15. Suggestions for managers, department
heads, etc. – Part 1
 Employees are not required to disclose things like anxiety to their
supervisors, unless asking for an accommodation. Please don’t assume
your staff is functioning as “normal.”
 Their feelings about not seeing patrons or students, and their loss of
what was “normal,” is a type of grief.
 New “coworkers” sometimes don’t understand the demands placed on
your staff.
 The virus may have hit too close to home for your staff. 15

16. What can we do?
16

17. Organizations / Hotlines
 National Suicide Awareness Hotline
 1-800-273-8255
 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster
Distress Hotline
 1-800-985-5990
 Find your organization’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
 It may include counseling.
17

18. Rethinking self-isolation for those who
are not immunocompromised
 The virus will kill me so I have to isolate vs. I am protecting those who
are immunocompromised and healthcare/front line workers.
18

19. What is this work/life balance of which
you speak?
 Mental health for those in small/studio apartments can drop during
shelter in place.
 Where you do put your work stuff if your only work space is where you
also happen to live?
 Find the sunlight.
19

20. Routine change
 I had to find a new “normal” routine through trial and error.
 I still get up and get ready as if I were going to work.
 I keep normal work hours.
 I don’t work through my lunch break.
 The work station gets turned off at the end of the work day.
 Attire vs. are you at least wearing pants when having video
conferences?
20

21. Where’s the Icy Hot?
 Office ergonomics does not equal home ergonomics.
 Muscular and skeletal problems can start (or get worse).
 Take smaller, frequent breaks.
 Get up and move!
 It’s also hard to work when you’re in pain and uncomfortable.
21

22.  Can you get outside to walk (depending on your shelter in place
order)?
 Can you do some yoga?
 Erin M. Burns (@cybrarerin) -> Yoga Yarn Arts YouTube channel (and
one of our own!!!)
 Yoga with Adriene -> On YouTube
 Down Dog app
 Exercise also helps mental health.
Movement as a helper

23.  I practice a meditation that is based in a faith tradition.
 Other meditation options:
 Insight Timer
 Calm
 Headspace
 Relax Melodies
Meditation / Mindfulness

24.  Nutrition impacts overall wellness.
 Six weeks of donuts/ice cream nutritional fuel for me.
 I notice increases in depressive/anxious moods and a decrease in
sleep quality.
 Can we find a happy medium?
Where are all the donuts?

25. News + social media = Overwhelming
 Watching the news and your social media feeds all the time is not
healthy.
 What are we taking in via our eyes and ears?
 I forget that things are funny.
 I need comedy tv shows and more light-hearted books.
 I need to listen to funny podcasts
 Instagram account is for cute animals!
 Recommended to have anxiety boxes at home and work.
25

26. The uncertain future ahead
 Library staff are scared and nervous.
 Furloughs
 Lay offs
 Budget cuts
 Lessons learned (or not) after the Great Recession
26

27. Suggestions for managers and
department heads, etc. – Part 2
 Please do not give in to vocational awe.
 Please stand up for your staff when the budget cuts are threatened.
 Library staff sometimes tend to not feel like they have a voice to
speak to their value with administration. They are relying on you.
 Please stand in solidarity with your staff.
 Have the administrators in your organization called for furloughs,
but haven’t taken a pay cut themselves? Reminding them of that
is standing in solidarity with your staff.
27

28. Hope for the future
28

29. Community
 Post social media content that will encourage both yourself and your
friends.
 #ProtectLibraryWorkers, #LibraryLayoffs, #LibrariesWFH on Twitter
 Advocate for your community, both patrons and staff.
 Hope: Prepare for and advocate for the difficult conversations we are
overdue to have.
 Hope: One day we’ll remember we are all part of the human family.
29

30. Thank you!
 Email: hgfisher@svsu.edu
 Twitter handle: @metadatacatalog
30