Abstract

Hourston 37 Amanda Credaro [1] writes, “Librarians are people too! I don’t know about you, buddy, but I’m no beige mouse!” Librarian stereotypes have fuelled coffee break and pub night conversations for librarians for generations. Implicit in the stereotype is the notion that librarians are just about as uncreative as anyone could be. I have surveyed librarians from around the world, most recently health librarians, and I am pleased to report that quite the opposite is true. For the past couple of years I have been on a quest to discover the secret to resilience for librarians. People have shared stories that were inspiring, breathtaking, humbling, heart wrenching, and heartwarming. I was intrigued to discover that creativity — from artistic expression to creative thinking — was a common thread throughout. That creativity is a theme in resilience is hardly surprising. Indeed, resilience, often defined as buoyancy or an ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, trauma, or personal and workplace stress, requires renewal and the ability to perceive or generate new options. Curious about whether creativity is a personality trait or a skill that can be learned, I polled librarians on the topic. I talked to 23 librarians (20 of them work in health libraries) from Canada, the US, England, Scotland, Austria, Sweden, and Australia. Based on my research and feedback from colleagues, I believe that librarianship is a profession that demands creativity. Many people define creativity as either artistic or applied (creative thinking skills). During the course of my research, it has become clear that creative expression is a continuum. Interestingly, it is not necessary to believe that you are creative to be creative. However, consciously using creativity can generate a greater number of options and more creative results. Perhaps more important is that by recognizing and nurturing creativity in ourselves — whether expressed through artistic endeavours or through creative thinking techniques — we can improve our resilience.

Highlights

  • Hourston 37 Amanda Credaro [1] writes, “Librarians are people too! I don’t know about you, buddy, but I’m no beige mouse!” Librarian stereotypes have fuelled coffee break and pub night conversations for librarians for generations

  • Psychiatrist and author Frederic Flach describes in Resilience: Discovering a New Strength at Times of Stress what he calls “the law of disruption and reintegration”

  • Flach points out that many are misled by the belief that creativity involves a talent expressed through artistic endeavours or resulting in scientific discoveries rather than an approach to everyday living

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Summary

Shelley Hourston

Hourston 37 Amanda Credaro [1] writes, “Librarians are people too! I don’t know about you, buddy, but I’m no beige mouse!” Librarian stereotypes have fuelled coffee break and pub night conversations for librarians for generations. For the past couple of years I have been on a quest to discover the secret to resilience for librarians. I was intrigued to discover that creativity — from artistic expression to creative thinking — was a common thread throughout. Resilience, often defined as buoyancy or an ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, trauma, or personal and workplace stress, requires renewal and the ability to perceive or generate new options. Curious about whether creativity is a personality trait or a skill that can be learned, I polled librarians on the topic. Many people define creativity as either artistic or applied (creative thinking skills). Perhaps more important is that by recognizing and nurturing creativity in ourselves — whether expressed through artistic endeavours or through creative thinking techniques — we can improve our resilience

The creative core of resilience
Consciously or unconsciously creative
Benefits of creativity
The flickering flame of creative energy
How can we nurture creative energy?

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