Emotional Intelligence as A Core Workplace Skill in Libraries
A Library 2.0 Masterclass with Loida Garcia-Febo
OVERVIEW:
Work relationships play a central role in how library professionals experience their jobs, collaborate with colleagues, and sustain their well-being over time. In today’s social climate—marked by ongoing change, increased stress, evolving community needs, and heightened emotional demands—library workers are navigating more complex interpersonal dynamics than ever before.
Libraries are people-centered organizations, and the quality of relationships among staff directly affects teamwork, communication, morale, and service to the community. Strong working relationships help library workers respond effectively to challenges, support one another through periods of change, and create environments where ideas, innovation, and professional growth can flourish. At the same time, strained or unhealthy dynamics can add stress and impact both individual well-being and organizational effectiveness.
This masterclass focuses on practical skills for building, maintaining, and strengthening positive work relationships in library settings. The content is tailored specifically to the realities of library work and addresses common stressors that influence interactions with colleagues and supervisors. Participants will explore what healthy professional relationships look like in practice, how to navigate differences in communication styles and expectations, and how to respond constructively to challenging situations.
Throughout the session, Loida Garcia-Febo will share practical tools, reflection prompts, and strategies that attendees can apply immediately to foster respectful communication, establish healthy boundaries, and strengthen collaboration within their teams.
OUTCOMES:
Participants will:
- Learn core principles for building and strengthening positive work relationships
- Identify common stressors affecting library workers and strategies to manage their impact
- Develop skills for establishing and maintaining healthy professional boundaries
- Become familiar with assertiveness, communication styles, and decision-making approaches
- Understand how Emotional Intelligence supports effective workplace relationships
- Explore foundational self-care practices that support sustainable collaboration
- Create a personalized Building Good Work Relationships Toolkit
The recording and presentation slides will be available to all who register.
DATE: Thursday, March 19th, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time
COST:
- $99/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
TO REGISTER:
Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.
If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):
- Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
- The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
- Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Learning Revolution or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
Loida Garcia-Febo is a Puerto Rican American librarian and International Library Consultant with 25 years of experience as an expert in library services to diverse populations and human rights. President of the American Library Association 2018-2019. Garcia-Febo is worldwide known for her passion about diversity, communities, sustainability, innovation and digital transformation, library workers, library advocacy, wellness for library workers, and new librarians about which she has taught in 44 countries. In her job, she helps libraries, companies and organizations strategize programs, services and strategies in areas related to these topics and many others. Garcia-Febo has a Bachelors in Business Education, Masters in Library and Information Sciences.
Garcia-Febo has a long history of service with library associations. Highlights include- At IFLA: Governing Board 2013-2017, Co-Founder of IFLA New Professionals, two-term Member/Expert resource person of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee of IFLA (FAIFE), two-term member of the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section of IFLA (CPDWL). Currently: CPDWL Advisor, Information Coordinator of the Management of Library Associations Section. Currently at ALA: Chair, IRC United Nations Subcommittee, Chair Public Awareness Committee. Recently at ALA: Chair, Status of Women in Librarianship and Chair, ALA United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force developing a multi-year strategic plan for ALA. Born, raised, and educated in Puerto Rico, Garcia-Febo has advocated for libraries at the United Nations, the European Union Parliament, U.S. Congress, NY State Senate, NY City Hall, and on sidewalks and streets in various states in the U.S.
