Building Joy-Centric Libraries: an Experiential Approach

This workshop is for library staff seeking joyful practices to build connection and community engagement, offering practical tools for work teams of all sizes. Positive psychology is shown to improve staff and customer retention and improve morale.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify one potential issue that can be heightened in times of challenge and transition.
• Participants will learn the positive psychology framework and tools to integrate into collaborations, meetings, and projects.
• Participants will engage in 3 joy-centric exercises and ways to integrate these into their work with communities.

Presenter Bio: Rebecca Hass (she/her/hers) is the programming and outreach manager for Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) and author of 101 Seeds for Library Joy. Prior to AACPL, she served in librarianship and management with the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Ramsey County Public Library. Rebecca received her MLIS from Dominican University in 2008 and her Life and Engagement Coaching Certificate from Anne Arundel Community College in 2022. Rebecca integrates positive psychology practices with DEIB approaches in libraries, community engagement, coaching, and consulting in her business, Joy Work, LLC.

A separate Building Joy-Centric Libraries workshop will be offered especially for Library Managers on 3/26/25.