Kaetrena

I'm overflowing(!) with joy to share that my course, Critical Hope & Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship, will be offered at the University of South Carolina School iSchool this summer! Registration is now open to graduate students & LIS practitioners. Learn more: tinyurl.com/2je46kdw

Renewers, keep in mind that the organization's desire is to keep itself going. Move accordingly when seeking your new role! Which things are (will you be) doing? See more at tinyurl.com/ywtnykv2

Renewers, I'm excited to reconnect with you live this year - here are my first speaking engagements of 2026. Learn more at tinyurl.com/uxxf9duc, and I hope to see you all soon!

The Reset Experience is happening soon, and I'm excited to introduce our speakers! Register for this complimentary community-building event at tinyurl.com/3jzvnswc. Only a few spaces are left! Workers from all libraries and library-supporting/adjacent workplaces are welcome.

In the latest issue of College & Research Libraries News: crln.acrl.org/index.php/cr...

Reconsidering Rest: Interruptions and Invitations (Part 2) - ACRLog Editor’s note: We welcome a guest blog post from Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, Founder, Renewals. (Activation notice: This post shares information about harmful workplace experiences and impacts on t...

"With love, bell hooks reminds us that healing is done in community – not alone. Therefore, in addition to sharing information about rest ...we must also offer spaces for people to imagine, craft, engage, and be held accountable for protecting space(s) to and practices of rest." tinyurl.com/5epjpvaa

Much love to the library workers in Minneapolis...and Chicago...and Portland...and...[your city]. Library workers, take care of each other, too!

Reconsidering Rest: Interruptions and Invitations (Part 1) - ACRLog Editor’s note: We welcome a guest blog post from Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, Founder, Renewals. (Activation notice: This post shares information about harmful workplace experiences and impacts on t...

"As library worker exposure to library values rejection, systemic harm, and compromised safety continue ... we need to revisit and to acknowledge the very real interruptions to rest practices – especially for truamatized workers and those with historically ignored identities." - tinyurl.com/2jw76hjv

Passive-Aggressive Communication is one of the main causes and manifestions of dysfunctional workplaces, and figuring out responses to ambivalent but harmful comments are one of the primary areas of rumination for harmed workers. Try these responses to help support or model clearer communication.

A new issue of our open-access journal, The Political Librarian, includes ‘We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, And A Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship’ by Kaetrena Davis Kendrick.

buff.ly/8eRRWmH

If you bypass emotional pain, the joy you're running too fast to meet will always feel forboden.

3/ sharing vulnerability, and responding to/intervening in harm when it presents as expected—or when it is revealed unexpectedly, as it is wont to do while engaging in the humane work of community-building, equity, social justice, and reconciliation." / END

2/ "Rejecting notions that unevenly leverage privacy of thought ideology to justify (the privilege of) turning away from others’ experience of harm and exclusion, I call on library workers to stay in the morally courageous and empathetic space of bearing witness, ...

We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, And A Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship As direct actions and corresponding documentation of the brisk desertion of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) values and activities continue within the United States academic landscape, troubling...

1/ Colleagues, my newest article, "We Already Know (Better): Private Thoughts, C/overt Harm, And A Call to Center Beneficence in Librarianship" has been published in The Political Librarian. tinyurl.com/3s7s282v

ALL IMLS grants restored in every state & territory.

In response to a ruling from a federal judge in Rhode Island, the Institute of Museum and Library Services reinstated all previously canceled grants in every state and territory. It's a huge win for libraries and our communities.

"The reinstatement of all IMLS grants means that libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination, and economic opportunity. We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not over." ALA President Sam Helmick. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.

NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.

This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!

Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...

It's December 1 - today, start practicing leaving your job on time so you have the habit established by January 1, 2026. If that's not possible, start taking your lunch on time (and as soon as you can - start leaving on time). Stop giving these workplaces your free time.

Minnesota Institute | University of Minnesota Libraries The Minnesota Institute for early career librarians from traditionally underrepresented groups focuses on the development of library leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Colleagues, I'm excited to share that applications are being accepted for the 2026 Minnesota Institute for Early Career Libarians! I'll be co-leading the Institute with Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros, and with support and participation of Ione Damasco! Learn more & apply here: tinyurl.com/yc6yhbha

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"Despair is a tool of your enemies." - Audre Lorde

Last week I offered a keynote at the Library Marketing & Communications Conference. I asked attendees to share their hopes for libraries & library workers. Which of these resonate with you? See more here (and add your hopes below): tinyurl.com/3cydfvkz

If you're navigating an active low-morale experience, which of these worries resonate for you?

Colleagues, if you've taught or facilitated about Assertive Communication in libraries, I'd love to chat with you (or, if you know of someone who has done this work, please send recommendations) - thank you!

Toxic co-workers/organizations won't onboard you when you arrive at the job - and will plan/throw you a party when they've forced you to leave it.

Toxic bosses/organizations won't reward you when you stay late often - and will punish you if you arrive late once.

I'm excited to share that in January, I'm slated to teach my special topics course, "Critical Hope and Self-Preservation in Contemporary Librarianship" at Dominican University's School of Information Studies! Learn more at tinyurl.com/mrxbchz

Here are a few mindsets that haunt #LowMorale workplaces. These entrenched mindsets are even scarier since we see may not immediately see damaging results - only to one day find ourselves among buried plans and goals and petrified and paralyzed employees. Which ones haunt your workplace?

This Tuesday afternoon I'll be presenting at the South Carolina Library Association conference, so don't forget to add my session if you're attending. See you there!

I'm brimming with joy to share that I'll be facilitating the 2026 Virginia Library Leadership Academy (my second cohort)! If you're a Virginia library employee interested in cultivating humane leadership and library workplaces, applications are now open! Learn more: tinyurl.com/3w62629x

Renewers, if you're attending the Library Marketing & Communications Conference this year, I'm looking forward to seeing you! Learn more: tinyurl.com/9t8zvxkt

The Renewals Workshop - Event - OhioNet Please join our award-winning facilitator, Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, as she leads a 6-hour workshop designed to help people and groups recognize, reconcile, and recover from dysfunctional organiz...

This Wednesday, I'll be in community and connection with colleagues coming to The Renewals Workshop, hosted by OhioNet! It will be an intentional day of reflection, clarification, exploration, and practice. See you there! tinyurl.com/443yd4wx