Professional Development Books for Library Staff

Updated June 10, 2025
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The 12 steps to a community-led library
Barbakoff, Audrey
Paper Book
Libraries want to be more responsive to their diverse communities. Yet many libraries lack the structures, cultures, and mindsets to sustain community-led methods. This book lays out an evidence-based, twelve-step process that will help you transform your library in ways that serve your unique...
The black belt librarian : real-world safety & security
Graham, Warren Davis.
Paper Book
Sharing expertise gleaned from more than two decades as a library security manager, Graham demonstrates that libraries can maintain their best traditions of openness and public access by creating an unobtrusive yet effective security plan. In straightforward language, the author ...
Cultivating civility : practical ways to improve a dysfunctional library
Henry, Jo
Paper Book
Like other workplaces, libraries can sometimes be stressful, with library workers bearing the brunt of such problems as uncivil patrons, poor communication, inadequate leadership, and toxic behaviors by fellow employees. But there's hope. Following up their
The dysfunctional library : challenges and solutions to workplace relationships
Henry, Jo
Paper Book
By tackling the dysfunctional library head on, managers as well as library workers who find themselves in a toxic situation will be poised to better meet library goals and move the library forward.
Gender issues and the library : case studies of innovative programs and resources
Smallwood, Carol
Paper Book
With the legalization of same-sex marriage and the explosion of LGBTQ news coverage in recent years, gender studies is a subject of intense interest in popular media and a part of the curriculum at many colleges. Libraries realize the importance of supporting the field yet many have difficulty...
Inclusive Cataloging: Histories, Context, and Reparative Approaches
Billey, Amber
Paper Book
As part of the profession's ongoing EDISJ efforts to redress librarianship's problematic past, practitioners from across the field are questioning long-held library authorities and standards. They're undertaking a critical and rigorous re-examination of so-called "best" practices and the...
Inspired collaboration : ideas for discovering and applying your potential
Stoltz, Dorothy
Paper Book
A book that will inspire effective communication and accountability within your organization and among community allies.
The Kind Librarian: Cultivating a Culture of Kindness and Wellbeing in Libraries
Rimmer, Helen
Paper Book
The Kind Librarian: Cultivating a Culture of Kindness and Wellbeing in Libraries is a pioneering guide that addresses the critical need to foster kindness and wellbeing within library workplaces and promoting a more supportive and understanding working environment. In it, the author expertly...
The librarian's guide to homelessness : an empathy-driven approach to solving problems, preventing conflict, and serving everyone
Dowd, Ryan
Paper Book
Homelessness is a perennial topic of concern at libraries. In fact, staff at public libraries interact with almost as many homeless individuals as staff at shelters do. Empathy and understanding, along with specific actionable advice that's drawn from experience, makes all the difference in...
The library : a fragile history
Pettegree, Andrew
Paper Book
Perfect for book lovers, this is a fascinating exploration of the history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age.   Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over...
Management basics for information professionals
Evans, G. Edward
Paper Book
The recipient of rave reviews from far and wide (Journal of Hospital Librarianship deemed it "a librarian's dream ... very forward-thinking"), since its initial publication this text has served as an essential resource for both LIS students and practitioners. The new fourth edition offers an...
Navigating Difficult Situations in Public Libraries: The Pla Guide to Trauma-Informed De-Escalation
Paauw, Margaret Ann
Because libraries are community spaces that provide access to information, resources, and programming for people of all ages and backgrounds, conflicts between patrons, verbal or physical altercations, and other difficult situations can occur. These situations can be traumatic for those involved,...
Prepared libraries, empowered teams : a workbook for navigating intellectual freedom challenges together
Calzada, Becky
Paper Book
Preliminary data for 2023 from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows an all-time high number of book challenges, shattering the previous record set only the year before. Anticipating and preparing for challenges can only be done effectively when the library has a unified team. This...
Public library buildings : the librarian's go-to guide for construction, expansion, and renovation projects
Charbonnet, Lisa
Paper Book
This go-to guide covers the entire process of building or renovating a public library--from initial planning, to maintaining the completed space, to measuring success. In light of current social and technological shifts, libraries are reinventing themselves. Meeting place,...
Reference and information services : an introduction
Cassell, Kay Ann
Paper Book
From the ongoing flood of misinformation to the swift changes occasioned by the pandemic, a myriad of factors is spurring our profession to rethink reference services. Luckily, this classic text is back in a newly overhauled edition that thoughtfully addresses the evolving reference landscape....
The safe library : keeping users, staff, and collections secure
Albrecht, Steve
Paper Book
For over 22 years, Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees around the country on the dos and don'ts of handling challenging, entitled, eccentric, demanding, harassing, or even threatening patrons. His articles, blogs, podcasts, and keynote speeches have helped empower equip...
Serving patrons with disabilities : perspectives and insights from people with disabilities
Laskin, Kodi
Paper Book
Ensuring accessibility is more important than ever; however, answering questions of what needs to be done and why to make a library accessible can be an uncomfortable and daunting hurdle to true inclusion. This book is a safe, nonjudgmental tool for overcoming this awkwardness, offering readers...
A trauma-informed approach to library services
Tolley, Rebecca
Paper Book
We are only now coming to terms with how common trauma really is; a landmark Kaiser study that surveyed patients receiving physicals found that almost two-thirds had experienced at least one form of abuse, neglect, or other trauma as a child. Though originating in the fields of health and social...
A trauma-informed framework for supporting patrons : the PLA workbook of best practices
Paper Book
Whether it's navigating a crisis or witnessing a community member struggling with tough times, coming face to face with trauma and adversity can be uncomfortable. But in striving to learn more about challenging behaviors, and how we can better interact with library patrons and our coworkers, we can...
Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers
Newman, Bobbi L.
Fostering well-being in today's library workplaces is no longer a luxury but a necessity, particularly for managers tasked with guiding and supporting their teams. Amidst budget cuts, attempts to ban or restrict books, attacks on library staff online and in-person, and potentially hostile and...
Whole person librarianship : a social work approach to patron services
Zettervall, Sara K.
Ebook
Winning grants : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians
Gerding, Stephanie K.
Paper Book
Newly updated and comprehensive, this invaluable manual is a must-have for library directors, grant writers, board members, consultants, and anyone navigating the intricacies of library grant funding. Whether you're starting from scratch and don't know where to begin, or you're an experienced grant...

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