University of South Carolina (University of South Carolina, School of Library and Information Science)

To mitigate work-related anxiety, burnout, stress, and attrition, the University of South Carolina will investigate how the identities of public library staff influence their engagement in routine library work, the strategies staff develop to work around barriers in these routines, the effectiveness of these workarounds, and the role of management in supporting staff efforts. The project team will use audio diaries, interviews, and participatory design workshops to identify problematic identity-based routines and strategies for working around them. Results will include a set of training materials for staff and management for understanding identity-based routines, their impacts, and how to enact strategies and policies for combatting workplace burnout and staff attrition while supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in public libraries.