How does joy show up at your library?
That was the question presented by Rebecca Hass, programming and outreach manager at Anne Arundel County (Md.) Public Library, at “Building Joy-Centric Libraries,” a June 26 session held during the American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. Hass discussed the concepts of joy, how it can be worked into every interaction into the library, and how librarians can maintain joy within themselves.
Hass defined passive joy as being content in the present, and active joy as seeking ways to share feelings with others. Librarians can work to be “joy gardeners” who plant “seeds of joy” in their environment or with the people around them. “[Joy gardeners] know about sharing, they know about story, they know that we’re stronger together, and resilient,” Hass said.
Hass also discussed the practice of “joyspotting,” or finding joy in the little things in life. For example, she suggested examining the room for a favorite color during a work meeting that may be getting too overwhelming or frustrating. “Your brain changes. Positive psychology [is] a real thing,” she said. “Joyspotting can happen and look like all sorts of different things for everybody.” “Joy buddies,” people or things that bring one joy, can also be implemented in the workplace. For example, Hass showed off a stress ball that a colleague gifted her and her son’s toothbrush.
Acknowledging that librarians and their communities have all experienced tough times during the pandemic and up to now, Hass suggested practical ways for librarians to insert joy in the workplace, such as starting a Teams channel dedicated to small wins or having the library’s positive role models speak during work meetings.
“Well-being is in the definition of joy and you are worth it,” Hass said. “You and your team and your customers and our communities, we all deserve joy of every flavor, color, religion. Everything deserves joy. I would be remiss to say that queer joy is absolutely part of my story.”
