Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Date/Time
6/11/2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern
Event Registration
Competency
Personal/Interpersonal
Event Description
Librarians and library workers enable members of our community to take care of themselves and each other, but research shows that we often end up trying to care for our own well-being alone. The struggles and burnout that many library workers face have systemic causes, yet we may feel compelled to address them with purely individual solutions. This webinar will explore how we can move to a paradigm of community care, where organizations and people work together to support us all.
Learning Objectives:
Audrey Barbakoff, EdD, MLIS
Dr. Barbakoff is passionate about helping organizations build capacity for collaboration and belonging by centering their communities. She is the CEO of Co/Lab Capacity LLC, which offers community-centered consulting and training to libraries. With a decade of public library experience and a doctorate in organizational change and leadership, she brings both a practical and scholarly lens to library development. Dr. Barbakoff holds an MLIS from University of Washington and an EdD from the University of Southern California. Her innovative work has been recognized by Library Journal Movers & Shakers, the Urban Libraries Council, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. She has served in a variety of service leadership roles, including the ALA Policy Corps, facilitating the ALA Emerging Leaders program, two terms on ALA Council, and chairing the Intellectual Freedom Round Table. Her newest book, co-authored with Noah Lenstra, is The Twelve Steps to a Community-Led Library. She has also written two picture books, which give her an excuse to dust off her children’s librarian skills for school and library visits.
Learning Objectives:
- How to recognize the underlying, systemic factors that lead to burnout
- Practical tips for how organizations, teams, managers, and individuals can participate in community care to reduce burnout and proactively support wellbeing
- How community and self care can work together to support library worker wellbeing
Audrey Barbakoff, EdD, MLIS Dr. Barbakoff is passionate about helping organizations build capacity for collaboration and belonging by centering their communities. She is the CEO of Co/Lab Capacity LLC, which offers community-centered consulting and training to libraries. With a decade of public library experience and a doctorate in organizational change and leadership, she brings both a practical and scholarly lens to library development. Dr. Barbakoff holds an MLIS from University of Washington and an EdD from the University of Southern California. Her innovative work has been recognized by Library Journal Movers & Shakers, the Urban Libraries Council, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. She has served in a variety of service leadership roles, including the ALA Policy Corps, facilitating the ALA Emerging Leaders program, two terms on ALA Council, and chairing the Intellectual Freedom Round Table. Her newest book, co-authored with Noah Lenstra, is The Twelve Steps to a Community-Led Library. She has also written two picture books, which give her an excuse to dust off her children’s librarian skills for school and library visits.
Location
Online via Zoom
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
Contact Person
Details
Who should attend: Anyone wanting to know more about community care and burnout
Competencies: Personal/Interpersonal
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
Can't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! This webinar includes archive access for later viewing at your convenience.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
Competencies: Personal/Interpersonal
Non-Member Cost: $40
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $24
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $20
Can't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! This webinar includes archive access for later viewing at your convenience.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
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