This session of the “Conference Virtual Reboot Series” will include closed captioning on Zoom, and the recording (available to participants for 3 months) on Vimeo will include a transcript. Audrey Wang’s presentation, “This is Fine. I’m Okay With the Events That Are Currently Unfolding: Practical tools to empower public facing library workers” was first offered at the 2023 BC Library Conference.
Description: This presentation is for library workers at all levels, but is directed at public facing professional and paraprofessional library workers who are driven to gain agency in their workplaces. And in particular, to improve public service and safety for themselves and their colleagues. Library leadership are holding conversations on confronting racism, equity and diversity, Truth and Reconciliation, community-led service models and social work in libraries. However, we are witnessing all levels of elected government lean towards another kind of accountability centered around economic stability and policing.
Where does that leave front facing library workers? The library worker who provides direct public service is situated in between both of the above described factions. They are intimately anchored in the physical space of a library and their experiences are interwoven with the personal stories of their patrons. This presentation will investigate how to spark agency and to flip the one way mirrors public facing workers find themselves sandwiched within. Here are three ideas which can serve as seeds of germination or be put into direct practice. Change creates a void. What ideas are going to fill it? How are we moving? Are we being ejected or are we lifted up? What is a circle of belonging and are you alone in your own circle?
When: Thursday, January 16th, 2025, 2:00-3:00pm (PST) on Zoom
*Registration closes on Wed. January 15th at 5pm
Presenter: Audrey Wang (she/hers) is the clerical Supervisor of the Carnegie Branch at the Vancouver Public Library, located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Chinatown communities. Previously and currently, her work focuses on developing customer service training methods, health and safety protocols, and union management relationships to better the working conditions of her colleagues.