[Eril-l] Core Webinar: Rebooting complex, intractable library services

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Core Webinar: Rebooting complex, intractable library services

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

All webinars are one hour in length and begin at 11 am Pacific, noon
Mountain, 1 pm Central, and 2 pm Eastern time.



Description:

Organizations are often plagued by problems that seem unsolvable: stalled
initiatives, multi-unit services that never quite align, or programs that
limp along despite repeated fixes. These challenges are rarely in the hands
of senior leadership; more often, they land on the desks of middle managers
or individual contributors who must make progress without full control of
the problem’s scope. Success in these situations depends on collaboration,
negotiation, and finding ways to work across boundaries.

Using a case study of the revamp of a failing cross-departmental program at
the ----- Library, this session will demonstrate a framework for
approaching intractable problems while equipping attendees with the tools
necessary to face similar challenges in their own institutions.

Participants will conduct an inventory of necessary units—both high-level
and functional expertise—needed to address persistent issues effectively.
Attendees will be guided in reconstructing analyses of previously
insurmountable problems, helping to distinguish between meaningful,
achievable outcomes and those requiring compromise. This critical reframing
fosters a more realistic and optimistic approach to problem-solving while
grounding the process in real, actionable steps.

Additionally, we will create a framework for multi-unit solutions that
emphasize rewarding interpersonal strengths rather than focusing on
punishing weaknesses. By creating an environment that fosters a culture of
collaboration and support, libraries can leverage diverse skill sets to
achieve larger goals.

Join us to gain practical insights, share experiences, and develop
strategies that empower your library community to face challenges
head-on—whether rethinking long-standing services, repairing fractured
workflows, or relaunching underperforming programs. Together, we can
transform the way libraries approach their most persistent problems.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

   -

   Conduct an inventory of units necessary to contribute to actionable
   solutions, including both high level and functional expertise.
   -

   Reconstruct analysis of a previously considered intractable problem to
   delineate between outcomes that may require compromise.
   -

   Create a framework for multi-unit projects that prioritizes rewarding
   interpersonal strengths instead of targeting and punishing weaknesses.


Who should attend?

Middle managers in libraries and educational institutions who face
historically rooted challenges related to equity and community engagement.

Presenters:

John Mack Freeman (he/him) is the Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary
Initiatives (GT Library) and Director of Clough Undergraduate Learning
Commons at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. Mack has 14
years of public and academic library experience with a focus on process
improvement and personnel development. Mack was the 2024 Georgia Library
Association President and 2025 Vice President of the Georgia First
Amendment Foundation. His research includes personnel development, process
improvement, and the intersection of policy, advocacy, and libraries.

Liz Holdsworth (they/them) is the Head of Academic Engagement at the
Georgia Tech Library. They earned an M.A. in Library and Information
Science from the University of Iowa and a B.A. in Political Science from
the University of North Carolina, Asheville. They provide leadership for
all aspects of instruction- related policies, procedures, and practices
that support student learning and assesses programs in relation to student
success. They engage as a thought-leader with faculty and colleagues in
developing and enhancing strategies for an inclusive library culture.


*****************

Registration fees for webinar:  Core Member $57.85; ALA member: $80.10;
Student member $44.50; Non-member $89.00

For additional information and access to registration links, please go to
the following website:

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1551

Core webinars are recorded and registrants receive a link to the recording
shortly following the live event.

For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling
1-800-545-2433 and press 5 or email registration at ala.org.

For all other questions or comments related to Core webinars, please
contact Core CE staff at corece at ala.org.

*Posted on behalf of the Core Continuing Education Committee.*
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