Librarian Health and the Library: A Vital Relationship

Gretchen GardellaNo CommentsBlog, Liblime

When we think about what makes a library thrive, we often consider its collections, programs, and community partnerships. Yet there’s a fundamental truth that warrants greater attention: the well-being of librarians is inseparable from the health of the libraries they serve.

Recent research reveals a concerning reality. A 2023 study found that 77% of workers reported experiencing work-related stress, with 57% reporting that it negatively affected their well-being (5). Among academic librarians, a survey of 267 in spring 2023 found a moderate average burnout score, with personal and work-related burnout scoring highest (3). These aren’t just statistics—they represent real people struggling with exhaustion, cynicism, and diminished effectiveness in their roles.

The connection between librarian health and library quality becomes clear when we consider what libraries are increasingly being asked to do. Modern libraries serve as community health hubs, offering everything from social prescribing programs to mental health resources (4). They’ve evolved from traditional book-lending institutions into dynamic spaces addressing multiple social determinants of health (1). Yet many librarians report inadequate training, staffing, and support for these expanded responsibilities (9).

When librarians experience burnout, the ripple effects touch every aspect of library service. Staff facing chronic workplace stress report reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and negative mental and physical health issues, including anxiety and depression (7). These challenges don’t stay behind closed doors—they affect the warm, welcoming atmosphere that library users consistently value. In a 2024 study, library patrons praised staff for being “amiable, helpful, warm, and welcoming,” with many noting that staff “had gone above and beyond to help people in need” (9). Yet ironically, many of those same librarians reported feeling devalued despite their dedication.

The causes of librarian burnout are systemic rather than individual. Research identifies six key contributors: excessive workload, lack of recognition and rewards, insufficient community support, loss of control over one’s work, values conflicts, and unfairness (2). In libraries, these manifest as staffing shortages, budget cuts, increased demands without additional resources, and the pressure to constantly justify the library’s existence while serving ever-evolving community needs (6). Recent studies also reveal that challenging patron behaviors—including violent incidents—impact staff wellbeing, causing stress and potential long-term psychological effects. Yet, many workers receive insufficient workplace support following traumatic experiences (10).

What makes this particularly concerning is that librarian wellbeing directly influences the library’s capacity to support community health. Studies confirm that libraries positioned as trusted community spaces can effectively promote mental and physical well-being—but only when barriers like staff support are adequately addressed (1). When librarians themselves are struggling, their ability to create the safe, inclusive spaces that patrons need becomes compromised.

The solution requires moving beyond individual self-care to systemic change. A 2024 book on kindness in libraries emphasizes that sustainable staff well-being depends on institutional policies that support collaboration, open communication, and mutual respect (8). Research consistently shows that workplace flexibility, adequate staffing, career advancement opportunities, and professional development funding all contribute to healthier library environments (2, 11).

Libraries cannot fulfill their expanding role as community catalysts for health and well-being if the people who run them are experiencing burnout. As one comprehensive review noted, library staff well-being is directly linked to the library’s ability to serve students and community members effectively (12). The literature is clear: when we invest in librarian health through better working conditions, adequate resources, and genuine organizational support, we invest in the library’s capacity to transform lives.

Supporting librarians isn’t just good ethics—it’s essential infrastructure. Healthy librarians create healthy libraries, and healthy libraries create healthier communities. It’s time we recognized this connection and acted on it.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

  1. BMC Public Health. (2024). Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-18535-5

  2. Newman, B. L. (2024). Causes of Burnout in Libraries. https://librarianbyday.net/2024/05/31/causes-of-burnout-in-libraries/

  3. Journal of Library Administration. (2024). Burnt Ends: An Examination of Academic Librarian Burnout Using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory after COVID-19. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01930826.2023.2287940

  4. Public Libraries Online. (2024). Rx for Community Wellness: How Social Prescribing Can Empower Libraries to Boost Public Health. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2024/12/rx-for-community-wellness-how-social-prescribing-can-empower-libraries-to-boost-public-health/

  5. Newman, B. L. (2024). Practical Solutions for Surviving Burnout, Iowa Library Association 2024. https://librarianbyday.net/2024/10/10/practical-solutions-for-surviving-burnout-iowa-library-association-2024/

  6. American Library Association. (2023). Academic Librarian Burnout: Causes and Responses. https://alastore.ala.org/content/academic-librarian-burnout-causes-and-responses

  7. Hiring Librarians. (2024). Author’s Corner: The Dysfunctional State of Library Workplaces and the LIS Profession. https://hiringlibrarians.com/2024/03/20/authors-corner-the-dysfunctional-state-of-library-workplaces-and-the-lis-profession/

  8. American Library Association. (2024). Cultivating kindness and wellbeing in libraries. https://www.ala.org/news/2024/09/cultivating-kindness-and-wellbeing-libraries

  9. PMC. (2024). Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11069228/

  10. Journal of Library Administration. (2024). The Hidden Toll: Exploring the Impact of Challenging Patron Behaviors on Australian Public Library Staff. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01616846.2024.2416271

  11. Charleston Hub. (2024). What do libraries need to thrive in the future? https://www.charleston-hub.com/2024/02/what-do-libraries-need-to-thrive-in-the-future/

  12. PMC. (2020). Library support for student mental health and well-being in the UK: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7535540/