Library Management and Leadership Conference:
Empowering Leaders and Managers to Succeed
October 25, 2024
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Akron Canton Airport
Canton, Ohio

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9:30 a.m. | Registration, Networking and Continental Breakfast

10 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions (Salon I, II, III)

• Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council
• Jennifer Buch, Conference Chair, and Director, Huron Public Library

10:15 a.m. | General Session (Salon I, II, III)

Harnessing Emotional Intelligence: Key Skills for Effective Leadership

Presenter: Tony Howard, Director, Pickerington Public Library

11 a.m. | Break

11:15 a.m. | Breakout Sessions

Session A	Session B	Session C
(Salon I)	(Salon II)	(Salon III)
We Need to Talk: Making Difficult Conversations Less Difficult CC: Communication, Problem Solving	The Policy Procedure: Creating a Comprehensive Policy Management Plan CC: Policies & Procedures, Organizational Awareness	Help! I Have Too Much Empathy: How to Manage Staff When You Feel Too Much CC: Leadership, Personnel Management

12:15 p.m. | Lunch and networking

1 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Session A	Session B	Session C
(Salon I)	(Salon II)	(Salon III)
Have Better Meetings:  Co-Design for Leading Change CC: Communication, Facilitation	HR 101 for New Managers CC: Problem Solving, Policies & Procedures	From Management to Administration: Bridging the Gap CC: Leadership,  Organizational Awareness

2 p.m. | Break

2:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

Session A	Session B	Session C
(Salon I)	(Salon II)	(Salon III)
Bringing it All Together:  A Conversation to Inspire a Productive Work Environment CC: Problem Solving, Personnel Management	Staff Day Your Way CC: Staff Development, Project Management	Arm Floaties for Small Libraries CC: Leadership, Adaptability

3:15 p.m. | Break

3:30 p.m. | General Session (Salon I, II, III)

Building a Healthy Culture in Libraries

Presenter: Jennifer Rusche, Staff Development Coordinator, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks & Adjourn

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Session Descriptions

(Alphabetical order)

Arm Floaties for Small Libraries

Do you run or work in a small library? Could “other duties as assigned” just be “ALL THE DUTIES!” It’s easy to feel like you’re on the verge of drowning when literally everything is your responsibility. In this informal panel discussion and Q&A, you will learn how to leverage the wealth of resources from Ohio libraries’ exceptional support organizations – including how reframing the idea of “networking” into “building your community” – can help keep you afloat!

Bringing It All Together: A Conversation to Inspire a Productive Work Environment

In this session, you will learn the many dynamics of the workplace environment including those represented by a union. We will explore some common challenges and examine strategies that could be utilized to create a more productive work environment. We will also cover basic concepts and terminology of collective bargaining and contract administration and how it may differ under different leadership. If you are new to the field, or just need a refresher, this is the session to get up-to-speed so you can confidently join the conversation and get answers to questions.

Building a Healthy Culture in Libraries

During this session, you will learn how to promote a healthy culture within your library. Jennifer Rusche, Staff Development Coordinator with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library will provide practical strategies for promoting staff well-being, fostering collaboration, and nurturing a supportive environment. You will also learn how to empower library teams to flourish and deliver exceptional service to customers.

From Management to Administration: Bridging the Gap

This session is designed for library professionals aspiring to transition to administrative roles. It addresses the significant changes in responsibilities, relationships, and expectations that accompany such a move.Three presenters from various libraries, levels of leadership, and backgrounds will share their personal journeys, challenges, and practical advice. Key topics include:

• Navigating changes in staff relationships, understanding new rules, budgets, and guidelines; developing a macro-level perspective for decision-making
• Building relationships with the Board and other stakeholders
• Preparing for the mental and emotional shifts required for the role.

This session will feature an interactive discussion format, allowing for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences. Whether you’re considering a move into administration or have recently transitioned, this session will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in your new role. Join us to gain valuable tools and strategies for your journey into library administration.

Harnessing Emotional Intelligence: Key Skills for Effective Leadership

Discover the transformative power of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership for today’s dynamic workplace. This session is designed to equip leaders at all levels with essential EI skills that enhance personal effectiveness and team dynamics. Participants will delve into the core elements of EI—self-awareness, empathy, and emotion management—through interactive exercises and practical strategies. Tony Howard, Director of the Pickerington Public Library, will explore the foundational concepts of EI and its pivotal role in leadership success. Participants will engage in guided activities to deepen their self-awareness, identifying strengths and areas for growth. Techniques for developing empathy will be introduced, fostering a deeper understanding of team dynamics and enhancing interpersonal relationships. Practical tools for managing emotions under pressure will also be covered, equipping you with strategies like mindfulness and stress management techniques. By the end of the session, you will not only gain insights into your own emotional strengths, but also develop actionable plans to integrate EI into your leadership approach. Whether leading large teams or small groups, this session will provide invaluable skills for navigating challenges, fostering a positive work environment, and achieving sustainable organizational success.

Have Better Meetings: Co-Design for Leading Change

Do you know that change is on the horizon, but aren’t sure where to start? Leading change can be tricky, but so rewarding when it goes right. Incorporating “Co-Design” principles to your meetings and communication can help get you there! In this interactive session, you will discuss strategies for identifying how ready your team is for change, as well as approaches for engaging with staff so you can walk the path of change together. You will come away from this session with the start of a plan for leading change that you can immediately begin implementing.

Help! I Have Too Much Empathy: How to Manage Staff When You Feel Too Much

There are a lot of trainings on how to develop more empathy, but what do you do when you have too much empathy? Are you someone who can walk into a room and feel what everyone is feeling? Do you have difficulty maintaining boundaries with staff because they feel comfortable sharing so much with you? Are difficult conversations even more difficult because you can feel the emotions from the other person? We’ve all heard of compassion fatigue, but sometimes it goes further and we can actually feel the emotions of others which makes it difficult to manage and lead other people. In this session, you will learn what it means to be an empath, how that ability can make us strong and effective leaders, and some tools, tips, and tricks to setting boundaries, taking care of yourself, and being the best leader to help your staff succeed.

HR 101 for New Managers

This session provides an overview of legal issues managers are likely to encounter and how to approach them. It will cover three broad areas:

• How to navigate relevant laws in the workplace, including state and federal discrimination laws, the ADA and the FMLA
• Behaviors to avoid and discourage in the workplace
• Behaviors to model and encourage in the workplace.

You will learn how

• Help managers to recognize and handle efficiently and lawfully a variety of workplace situations that can result in employer liability.
• Equip managers to recognize and deal with unacceptable workplace behavior, including harassment and bullying and providing managers with effective strategies for prevention and response.
• Provide managers with practical advice and tools to make them more effective, including proper documentation, tips on lawful interviewing and employee selection, and performance management. The workshop will also include coverage of new legislation that impacts the workplace, including the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act and the PUMP Act.

Staff Day Your Way

This session will guide you through developing, planning, and coordinating a conference-style staff development day. This session will take a comprehensive look at planning a staff development day, including selecting and scheduling presenters, ensuring the needs and wants of your staff are actually being met in sessions, and doing it all within your budget. This session will also include best practices for session signups (typically done using an LMS or Excel), using your library space to its full potential, and planning in a way that minimizes your stress the day of the event. You will also learn how to solicit feedback from your staff that you can actually use to improve your next staff development day.

The Policy Procedure: Creating a Comprehensive Policy Management Plan

While most librarians are familiar with collection management practices, we may not think about policy management quite as often. With many of our operating policies 20+ years out of date, in 2022 Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s Director and Board created a priority list, schedule for review, and review procedure for all library policies. This approach makes policy management an annual part of the board’s duties, ensures board/ admin familiarity with all policies, as well as up-to-date, essential, counsel-reviewed policies that meet modern standards and help library operations run smoothly. In this session, Library Director Robyn Vittek will share the tools created to streamline policy management and lead a discussion among peers on policy creation, review, revision, and best practices (Note: this session should not be considered legal advice).

We Need to Talk: Making Difficult Conversations Less Difficult

Difficult conversations happen every day. They happen between supervisors and staff, staff and patrons, and even between peers. And while hard conversations will always be hard, the right preparation and some practical tips can make them a little less difficult (and likely more productive). In this session, you will learn how to prepare for and conduct high stakes conversations with care and respect. Drawing on a combination of proven practices and real-world experience, presenter Jeff Regensburger will offer strategies that will benefit participants in all aspects of their professional lives. Hard conversations might always be hard, but when we have the skills we need, they can also be beneficial and maybe even transformative.