Overdue for Optimism: Creating a Positive Work Environment
It’s appropriate that this issue—our test run at electronic publishing—should be devoted to the theme of optimism. We’ve all labored to stay upbeat through the past few years of shrinking budgets and changing user expectations. The contributors to this issue share their stories of making work fun, of finding the positive in difficult situations, from Whatcom County Library System’s efforts to become a learning organization (“Monkeys in the Library,” p. 5) to the egalitarian unconference-planning approach of InfoCamp (“Creating a Positive Volunteer Environment,” p. 8)
Anna Shelton shares tips for dealing with stress (“Take Action,” p. 18), and (in a guest Solinus column) Susan Madden shares tips for dealing with retired library employees (“When Your Library Is a Pasture,” p. 25).
Speaking of columns, Kate Laughlin is passing the “Learning Curve” torch to the WALT interest group; WALT members, beginning with Jeanne Fondrie (“Better Together,” p. 29), will take turns writing about continuing education.
This issue represents a work in progress. Everything about it is up for discussion, from our use of aXmag page turning software (which is used by WLA’s management company, MCA, for its other online publications) to our tentative use of hyperlinks, to our presentation and organization on the WLA website. Please let me know what you think about this issue, and if you have suggestions for improvement.
Alki Editor: Bo Kinney
Alki Editorial Committee: Diane Cowles, committee chair; Samantha Becker; Theresa Kappus; Emily Keller; Tami Robinson; Kate Skinner; Tony Wilson
Alki was designed by Tammy Reniche, Director of Publications for Melby Cameron & Anderson.
Cover photo: Whatcom County Library System and Bellingham Public Library’s combined all staff day. See articles on pages 5 and 28.
