“Always believe in your ideas. Remember that one time a person suggested a tornado full of sharks in a meeting.” – some random, yet wise, person on the internet.

In celebration of National Library Week—and especially National Library Workers Day—we recognize the people behind our libraries who make collaboration and service possible every day. Effective teamwork isn’t just a goal in libraries; it’s essential to how we serve our communities. Yes, the illusive and illustrative idea of teamwork, where we bring an array of colleagues with different strengths, beliefs, personalities, and senses of morality together to achieve a common goal. After years of failed group projects in school, it can be rather intimidating to navigate the waters of interpersonal relationships at work with the aim of becoming an efficient team, leaving everyone’s sense of dignity and confidence intact. But the hallmarks of effective teamwork are not illusive, and they’re not complicated. In fact, I believe that these hallmarks create a simple foundation for tremendous success. There are three staples to successful teamwork: communication, transparency, and action.

Productive communication within a team relies on clarity, openness, and professionalism. I have found that many negative interactions and arguments stem from a lack of clarity on purpose, end-goals, and intentions. Am I asking for help because I’m creatively stuck, have run out of capacity, or feel underprepared to handle this work on my own? Clarity in everyday interactions and requests opens doors and sets the tone for productive work. It also helps build trust, leading to more open communication. Open about ideas, open about challenges, open about opportunities for improvement. To be an effective team, we cannot be afraid to throw our ideas into the ring of consideration, even the ones that feel wild and weird. We need to trust that our colleagues will meet all ideas and critiques, without judgment. Lastly, professionalism means something different to each team member. Understanding each other’s sense of humor and expectations for their environment is imperative for a safe and healthy atmosphere. In library environments, where staff serve diverse community needs, this kind of open and respectful communication is what allows teams to adapt, respond, and truly connect with the people they serve.

This flows into transparency, which goes beyond the perimeter of communication. Transparency in expectations and boundaries is vital for a stable team and starts from the top down. Supervisors need to set clear guidelines about expectations regarding output, communication, timelines, and boundaries. How is my team able to achieve their goals if they don’t know what they are, when they’re set to expire, or what the parameters of the work entail? In my research on academic librarian burnout, I learned that clearly communicated expectations and boundary setting are necessary to mitigate the risk of burnout within any unit. It’s worth noting that this starts with management, whose own actions and beliefs set the tone for the entire organization’s work culture. This is especially important in libraries, where staff often balance public service, programming, and behind-the-scenes work—clear expectations and supportive leadership make all the difference in sustaining a healthy team.

Finally, as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. How we treat our work and how we treat our colleagues will determine the efficacy and health of the entire team. Respect in our actions looks like meeting deadlines, producing quality work with pride, and upholding all the tenets of teamwork discussed above. It also means communicating with respect, kindness, and empathy. I have repeated the phrase, “assume good intent”, to teammates so many times that it’s been recommended I get it tattooed on my arm for posterity! But the assumption of good intent not only provides grace for those who “cop a tone” or aren’t being their best selves, it also affords us peace of mind by not borrowing trouble that may not be ours to bear. After leading several teams and dynamics, I have discovered that the healthiest teams are those that don’t assume that the world is their enemy, out to deal blow after blow. The teams that thrive are those that believe their work has worth, their teammates have their back, and that we can rejoice in each other’s achievements. Our work will be rife with challenges, but these challenges are where we discover opportunities to grow, and are what make library workers so essential—not just to their teams, but to the communities they serve. National Library Workers Day reminds us that these efforts, often unseen, are what keep libraries strong.

Is this all a bit idealistic? Yes, but it’s also interwoven with realistic expectations for what lies ahead and what we can achieve. Assume good intent, choose empathy for all those around you (coworkers, patrons, and beyond), communicate clearly, set expectations, and present an open mind. As we celebrate National Library Week, it’s worth recognizing that strong teams are at the heart of every successful library. Behind every program, resource, and service is a group of dedicated individuals working together to make it happen with grace and success.

Emma Beaver, Director of Library Services