Bring Back Fun

Using Play to Sustain Library Teams

Course Details

July 28, 2026 | 12:00 - 4:00 PM ET

Half-Day Online Conference

4 Credit Hours

This course is intended for all school and public library leaders.

$261 (Save with early bird and group rates!)

IS YOUR TEAM DRAGGING A LITTLE RIGHT NOW?

People are showing up and doing the work, but the energy just isn't there.
Things feel heavier, more transactional, and a lot less fun than they used to.
There's less laughter, less ease, and fewer moments where people actually connect.
You can tell your team needs a lift, but you don't want to force anything that feels cheesy, awkward, or fake.
You want work to feel more human again, not like everyone's just grinding through the day.

This course shows you how to use play in thoughtful, realistic ways so your team can reconnect, recharge, and make the day-to-day feel lighter.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Learn how to use play in realistic ways to support morale, improve performance, and make work feel more sustainable.

Live session via Zoom:
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 12:00 - 4:00 PM ET

(Can’t attend live? Recording sent out after the live session.)

When a team's been under pressure for a long time, work can start to feel flat, overly serious, and harder to sustain. This half-day live online course explores how play can help library leaders rebuild energy, support connection, and create moments of relief that make the workday feel more manageable.

The live session runs on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM ET and will be recorded for on-demand viewing for six months. For more details, check out the What to Expect tab.

ENROLL IN SUMMER SESSION

Early bird rate is $215 through June 28, 2026. Standard rate is $261 through July 28, 2026.

Need an invoice or PO? Orders of $600 or greater can choose invoice at checkout. For orders under $600, submit this form, and we will process your order manually.

Need approval? Email this course to your supervisor.

TRAINING A TEAM?

If you've got a leadership team that could use fresh ways to support morale, connection, and burnout prevention, this is a smart session to take together.

Multi-seat discounts are automatically calculated in the cart.

Buying for a larger group? Explore all purchasing options

Return to Full Course Catalog

What You'll Learn Who This is For What to Expect

AFTER COMPLETING THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

Make a clear, credible case for play at work so it feels like a smart leadership move, not a nice-to-have.
Use simple, realistic strategies to bring more energy, connection, and ease into your team’s day-to-day work.
Choose and run play-based activities that actually fit your team’s mood, capacity, and comfort level.
Use play as a practical tool to ease burnout, support emotional labor, and help your team reconnect.

You’ll leave with go-to activities and a clearer sense of how to bring energy and connection back into your team in a way that actually feels natural.

If you're someone who:

can feel that your team’s energy has shifted, even if no one is saying it out loud
is trying to support morale while everyone is stretched, tired, and carrying a lot
wants to bring more connection and ease into the workplace, but doesn’t want it to feel forced or awkward
is responsible for team culture and knows it’s getting harder to sustain in the current environment
wants practical ways to help people feel more like themselves at work again

This course was built for you.

This course is especially relevant for:

library directors, branch managers, and department heads
team leads and supervisors responsible for staff experience and day-to-day culture
emerging leaders stepping into management roles and figuring out how to support a team
anyone responsible for staff engagement, workplace culture, or team dynamics

If part of your job is helping a team stay connected, supported, and able to keep going, you’ll see yourself in this course.

ALL THE DETAILS

Play and productivity go hand in hand. In this dynamic, interactive session, participants will discover that play is not a break from work. It’s a crucial part of work.

Play is a powerful tool for energizing teams, fostering creativity, boosting morale, and mitigating burnout. Library managers and leaders will learn to incorporate playful engagements at personal, shared, and organizational levels, ranging from quick ice breakers to immersive half-day activities.

Through interactive exercises, participants will explore how varying levels of energy and vulnerability can provide relief from the cycle of emotional labor and compassion fatigue that lead to burnout.

Leaders of all levels will walk away with the confidence and tools to reignite inspiration and boost morale within library teams.

Please note: We know the ideas of play and vulnerability can be scary, especially in an online space, but this course is designed to be inclusive, flexible, and respectful of personal boundaries. You’ll always have clear guidance and the option to opt out of any activity.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Rate + deadline	Summer Session
Early bird deadline	June 28, 2026
Early bird price	$215
Standard deadline	July 28, 2026
Standard price	$261
Course date	July 28, 2026 (12:00–4:00 PM ET)

GROUP OPTIONS

Training a team? Choose the setup that matches how you want to plan and pay:

Group course enrollment: Enroll 3+ staff in this course and save.

Bulk course credits: Prepay once, get the highest per-seat discount on every course, and assign seats later.

Unlimited annual licensing: System-wide access for a year with no per-course approvals.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

Questions? Email groupsales@libraryjournal.com.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a half-day live online course held on Zoom.

The session includes interactive exercises, reflection, and play-based activities ranging from quick ice breakers to more immersive team experiences.

You’ll receive clear guidance throughout and can opt out of any activity at any time.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course is 4 hours long. You will earn 4 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

The recording will be available on demand for six months following the live session as part of your purchase.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete the course requirements to earn 4 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com.

SUPPORT

For technical or course-related support, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.

Return to Catalog