There are mornings when I wake up with a thousand ideas. By the time I hit the library, I’ve planned three programs in my head, solved two staffing challenges, rewritten our onboarding guide (mentally), and probably designed a new logo in Canva while waiting for my coffee to brew and humming a song I made up about the library that goes to the tune of We Built This City. It's a crazy world and I'm just living in it.
The Big-Thinker Trap
I love ideas. I love solving things. I love making the library a magical, engaging space. I want it to feel like something is always happening, especially for kids and families. The one thing I keep forgetting is that somewhere between my vision and actual reality is this little thing called capacity.
Sometimes I look at my calendar and think, "Who scheduled all this?!" Then I remember: oh yeah. It was me.
Summer Reading Energy: Maximum Overdrive
Right now, We're all living in it. It’s June. It’s Summer Reading. At my library we've got Summer Lunch too, and I want our library to be the place to be. So what did I do? I packed our calendar like a suitcase for a month-long trip with only a carry-on. There are crafts, activities, guests, giveaways, and chaos. Beautiful, joyful chaos.
Here’s what people outside of libraries don’t always realize:
If the holidays are retail’s busiest season, summer is the Library's busiest time of the year.
The kids are out of school. Caregivers need support. The community turns to us for free programs, safe spaces, and meaningful engagement. We show up and we show up BIG.
And also? We get exhausted.
Here’s the difference this year: This year I reach out to staff and I asked for help and we created a Summer Reading/Summer Lunch Team! I let go of the idea that I had to run every program, troubleshoot every detail, and personally glitter-glue the path to the end of the summer. What about our Summer Team? They’re showing up! Doing it up right. They’re helping make the magic real and I love that so much!
"You’re Doing Too Much, Bro"
Have you heard this Gen Z phrase? You're Doing Too Much, Bro. It’s said with humor or a bit of snark, but it really hits home when you think about it.
When your to-do list is a scroll, your inbox is overflowing, and you’re mentally writing meeting agendas at red lights, it’s time to pause.
It doesn’t mean you care any less. It means your caring has overflowed its container. At this point, it's time to remind yourself it’s okay to scale back. It’s okay to rest. Remember you can't pour from an empty cup.
Right now, We're all living in it. It’s June. It’s Summer Reading. At my library we've got Summer Lunch too, and I want our library to be the place to be. So what did I do? I packed our calendar like a suitcase for a month-long trip with only a carry-on. There are crafts, activities, guests, giveaways, and chaos. Beautiful, joyful chaos.
Here’s what people outside of libraries don’t always realize:
If the holidays are retail’s busiest season, summer is the Library's busiest time of the year.
The kids are out of school. Caregivers need support. The community turns to us for free programs, safe spaces, and meaningful engagement. We show up and we show up BIG.
And also? We get exhausted.
Here’s the difference this year: This year I reach out to staff and I asked for help and we created a Summer Reading/Summer Lunch Team! I let go of the idea that I had to run every program, troubleshoot every detail, and personally glitter-glue the path to the end of the summer. What about our Summer Team? They’re showing up! Doing it up right. They’re helping make the magic real and I love that so much!
"You’re Doing Too Much, Bro"
Have you heard this Gen Z phrase? You're Doing Too Much, Bro. It’s said with humor or a bit of snark, but it really hits home when you think about it.
When your to-do list is a scroll, your inbox is overflowing, and you’re mentally writing meeting agendas at red lights, it’s time to pause.
It doesn’t mean you care any less. It means your caring has overflowed its container. At this point, it's time to remind yourself it’s okay to scale back. It’s okay to rest. Remember you can't pour from an empty cup.
What I’m Learning (Still)
I don’t have to prove my worth by how much I do (I'm just fine)
Delegation is a strategy (The more the merrier!)
Saying “no” sometimes is like saying “yes” to your own self-care (A little no never hurt)
The library will survive if I leave a few white spaces on the calendar (Cringing over here, LOL!)
The best kind of magic happens when you let others co-create it (This is so true!)
Final Thoughts
If you’re a big thinker with a big heart, just know this: You’re enough, even when you’re not knocking yourself over with exhaustion. You don’t have to overdo it to make a beautiful and meaningful summer at the library.
My motto is Self-care isn’t Selfish. Especially in library work. It’s how we stay strong, creative, and resilient. If you’re feeling the burnout creep in, or just want practical strategies for maintaining balance in your library life, I invite you to check out my course on ALA eLearning: It's free to all ALA members.
Self-Care for Library Workers
It’s full of real talk, helpful tools, and reminders that you matter too.
Remember to Breathe... Just breathe. Pass the glue stick. It'll all be over soon.
If no one else says it today I will: You’re doing great. But also…you might just be doing too much.
I don’t have to prove my worth by how much I do (I'm just fine)
Delegation is a strategy (The more the merrier!)
Saying “no” sometimes is like saying “yes” to your own self-care (A little no never hurt)
The library will survive if I leave a few white spaces on the calendar (Cringing over here, LOL!)
The best kind of magic happens when you let others co-create it (This is so true!)
Final Thoughts
If you’re a big thinker with a big heart, just know this: You’re enough, even when you’re not knocking yourself over with exhaustion. You don’t have to overdo it to make a beautiful and meaningful summer at the library.
My motto is Self-care isn’t Selfish. Especially in library work. It’s how we stay strong, creative, and resilient. If you’re feeling the burnout creep in, or just want practical strategies for maintaining balance in your library life, I invite you to check out my course on ALA eLearning: It's free to all ALA members.
Self-Care for Library Workers
It’s full of real talk, helpful tools, and reminders that you matter too.
Remember to Breathe... Just breathe. Pass the glue stick. It'll all be over soon.
If no one else says it today I will: You’re doing great. But also…you might just be doing too much.
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