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Balancing Act: Navigating Mental Health as Parental Caregivers in the Library Profession

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October 16, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MDT

Join us for our third Mental Health & Wellness panel, Balancing Act: Navigating Mental Health as Parental Caregivers in the Library Profession, on Wednesday October 16, 2024 at 1 PM MT.

Registration is required.

Navigating parenthood, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health within the library profession presents a myriad of challenges for library workers. Juggling professional obligations with familial duties can take a toll on mental well-being, impacting not only the individuals themselves but also the quality of service they provide to library patrons.
This panel discussion delves into the lived experiences of individuals experiencing parenthood, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health within the library profession. For library employees who are parents or caregivers, the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance is real.
In this panel discussion, library workers will have the opportunity to share their personal experiences and insights, highlighting the unique struggles they face in balancing their professional and familial roles while prioritizing their mental well-being. By sharing strategies for self-care, seeking support, and fostering resilience, participants will gain valuable perspectives and practical tips for navigating these challenges. Ultimately, by shedding light on the realities of navigating mental health within the context of parenthood, caregiving, and the library profession, this panel aims to promote understanding, empathy, and support for library workers who are grappling with these issues.
Additional Panel Sessions
About the panelists

Elwood Colahan HeadshotEllwood Colahan (he/him) is Music & Performing Arts Reference Librarian at University of Denver. He is active in Music Library Association, College Music Society, and Guitar Foundation of America. His work has been published in Music Reference Services Quarterly, Soundboard Scholar, and College Music Symposium. He was formerly a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea, where he worked in public health and community development. His research interests include classroom pedagogy, data sonification, early fretted instrument tablatures, and issues in contemporary Balinese music.

 

 

Asley Fayhe HeadshotAshley Fahey has worked in libraries for 20 years, starting in high school as a library aide during study hall. Over my career, I’ve worked in academic, school, and public libraries in a variety of positions-from volunteer to supervisor. I earned my MLIS in 2010 from Kent State University with a concentration in reference and library instruction. I slowly found myself loving public libraries and especially serving youth and their families. Youth librarianship has been my career focus now for the past 8 years. I’ve been with Douglas County Libraries for 8 years (in August).

 

Johanna Tuttle Smith HeadshotJohanna Tuttle Smith (she/her) is the Teen Services Division Manager at Loveland Public Library where she manages a small but mighty team serving youth 6th-12th grade. Johanna has been in libraries for over a decade and worked at Campbell County Public Library in Wyoming as a young adult specialist, circulation specialist, and a reference specialist before landing her dream job in Loveland, CO. Johanna is the mother of two children, one of whom was a library baby, and stepmother to four more with another little one on the way in two days. Her experience as a single parent managing full-time work while going back to school for a bachelor’s degree, blending families with a new partner, and as someone who is passionate about serving teenagers (at work and home) helped her make the decision to volunteer for this panel.

 

 

 

Lauren Wilder Headshot

Lauren Wilder attended Metro State University and has worked for Jeffco Library for eight years. She loves helping patrons and learning new things.

 

 

 

 

 

Alejandro Marquez HeadshotAlejandro Marquez (he/him), is a Science and Engineering Librarian at University of Denver Libraries. He also served in the Peace Corps in El Salvador where he worked as a Municipal Development volunteer. His research interests include library employee mental health and well-being.

Details

Date:
October 16, 2024
Time:
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm MDT
Website:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItc-mprTosEtZ6uxxFNPCxzepyb04xgY7K