Director Briefing - November 4, 2024

Open House, Trustee CE Hours, and Annual Meeting - November 13, 2024 at System HQ

All are welcome to join us for the 35th Annual Meeting of the OWWL Library System Board of Trustees, which will be held on Wednesday, November 13, at System Headquarters, 2557 State Route 21, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Click here to register.

This year, we will hold an open house, offer a presentation on library systems (that will count towards Trustee CE hours), and elect three System Trustees. You are welcome to attend any or all of the agenda items below.

• 3 - 4 PM: Open House at System HQ with tours of our facility (arrive any time to receive a tour; there is no hard start/end time).
• 4 - 5 PM: A presentation on the System and upcoming items for 2025; this presentation will count for one hour of Trustee education.
• 5 - 5:30 PM: A brief Annual Meeting of the OWWL Library System Board of Trustees. This will include the election of Trustees to the System Board (Jennifer Tessendorf, Maureen Wheeler, and Leslie Shaw). All member library Trustees are eligible to vote.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please register by Wednesday, November 6.

2025 Planning Cohort

The System will be facilitating another Planning Cohort starting February 2025. The cohort will meet once per month from February to December to develop your library's Strategic (or Long-Range) Plan.

Let me know if your library's Strategic Planning Committee would like join the 2025 Planning Cohort.

Library Legislative Event - Friday, November 15, 2024 at Henrietta Public Library

The Legislative Breakfast through RRLC will be Friday, November 15 from 8:30 AM to 10 AM at Henrietta Public Library. We will be celebrating Naples Library, Brandi Rozelle from Geneva, and Sara Schlinger from Livonia as they receive well-deserved Library of the Year and Library All Stars recognition! RSVP here.

Please join us for our fall 2024 library legislative event. We will be showcasing our Library All Star and Library of the Year winners, talking about issues impacting libraries, and will offer our legislators a chance to say a few words. Our tentative schedule is as follows:

• Sign-in, Networking, and Refreshments
• Welcome
• Library All Star & Library of the Year Recognitions
• Remarks from Legislators
• Closing
• Networking

HBR: Tip of the Day

How to Get Through a Moment of Workplace Anxiety

Picture it: You’re at your desk and focused when an urgent email throws you off. Maybe it’s a seemingly dire mistake, a last-minute request, or a passive-aggressive message from your boss. Panic sets in: Your heart races, your mind scrambles. When workplace anxiety strikes, these simple strategies can help you manage it on the spot.

To calm down, start by adjusting your posture. When you sit still for too long, your brain can interpret it as stress. Every 20 minutes, rotate your neck, move your eyes between nearby and distant objects, and shake off that tension to reset your nervous system.

Next, create a “panic pack”—a small kit with items to engage your senses. Try a fidget toy for touch, essential oils for scent, and a salty snack for taste. These sensory triggers can help calm your body’s stress response and ground you.

Lastly, focus on your breathing or hum quietly. Both activities activate your vagus nerve, a key player in relaxation. A few slow, deep breaths or a quick hum can help reduce your heart rate and ease anxiety, even in the middle of a busy day.

This tip is adapted from “3 Ways to Manage Moments of Work-Induced Anxiety,” by Nicole Cain.