Managing Patron Challenges From a Trauma-Informed Lens (for Administrators)

NOTE: Before you attend this online skill-building session you must complete the self-paced pre-training in CALL Academy. (If you are new to using CALL Academy please create an account with your library email address. It is completely free.)

This interactive skill-building online session builds upon the required foundational material (noted above) from Instructor Beth Wahler - "Trauma-Informed Librarianship (for Library Administrators)."

Participants will have the chance to learn and practice skills for addressing common library challenges by focusing on how to set boundaries with patrons from a trauma-informed lens and approach. In addition, administrators will learn:

• Skills for helping staff be prepared and empowered to address patron challenges from a trauma-informed lens
• Examples of activities that administrators can do in their library to support staff and reduce the impact of work-related trauma and stress, including best practices for establishing behavioral policies, training staff on processes for handling inappropriate patron behavior, and how to begin peer support or reflective practice groups for staff.

Since skills can only be developed through participation and practice in a low-stakes environment, attendees should plan on interacting with one another and participating in this virtual session. The instructor requests that all attendees plan to have their cameras on, if possible.

Instructor: Beth Wahler

Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Wahler is the Director of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and founder/owner of Beth Wahler Consulting. She is a researcher, educator, consultant, and social worker that has collaborated with both individual libraries and large library systems throughout the U.S. to conduct needs assessments of their patrons’ psychosocial needs and staff challenges with these types of patron needs. She has created and piloted various interventions to address patron needs through a trauma-informed lens.

This training will also be offered with the same instructor in an on-ground format in April at four locations (Sacramento area, April 24; East Bay, April 25; Los Angeles region, April 26; Inland Empire, April 27). Please register for only one of these options (online or on-ground).

This delivery is for Administrators. If you are not an Administrator you should attend either the February 15 or February 22 all library staff session.