Managing Change When Everyone’s Already Exhausted

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

• Understand how change happens in organizations, and why even necessary changes often get stuck
• Scope and plan for change more clearly, including identifying the purpose, desired outcomes, and likely pressure points
• Choose and apply change management models that fit your context instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach
• Communicate about change more clearly with staff, leaders, and external stakeholders
• Engage stakeholders in ways that build trust, collaboration, and stronger buy-in over time
• Analyze risks, resistance, and common challenges so you can respond before momentum falls apart
• Track progress using goals and indicators that help you evaluate and adjust the change as it unfolds

You will leave with practical tools to guide real change in your library, not just abstract theory about how change is supposed to work.

This course is especially helpful for:

• Library directors, branch managers, and department heads leading organizational change
• Supervisors and team leads responsible for helping staff adjust to new priorities, structures, or workflows
• Managers who need a stronger framework for planning and communicating change
• Library leaders working through restructuring, strategic shifts, staffing changes, or new service models
• Anyone in a leadership role who knows change is necessary but wants to lead it more effectively

If that sounds like your role, you will probably see yourself in this course.

If you are someone who:

• Feels like your library is constantly adapting to one more thing, with very little time to catch up
• Has tried to roll out change before and run straight into confusion, resistance, or fatigue
• Wants a better way to involve the right people early instead of trying to repair buy-in later
• Needs help turning a broad idea for change into a realistic plan with communication, structure, and follow-through
• Wants to lead change without relying on panic, pressure, or vague optimism

This course was built for you.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 4 SELF-PACED MODULES:

Module 1: Planning and Initiating Change Management

How can you successfully plan for change? What types of change exist, and what unique preparations should you take for each? This module introduces the foundations of change management and explores the purpose and goals of planning for change. You will learn how to plan effectively in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment and anticipate human responses to change. Leave with practical strategies to set your organization and team up for success.

Module 2: Structures and Cultures for Change

What change management methods and models can you use to support your organization’s evolution? This module covers both classic and modern change management models, including how to select the right approach for your context. Explore ways to build a work culture that embraces change and supports staff throughout transitions. You’ll leave with a toolkit of practical methods to foster adaptability and resilience across your organization.

Module 3: Engaging Stakeholders in Change

Successful change requires collaboration and clear communication. This module focuses on stakeholder engagement and communication strategies. Learn how to identify and prioritize stakeholders, set measurable outcomes, and communicate effectively with leaders, staff, and community members. By applying these approaches, you’ll be able to build trust, gain buy-in, and maintain alignment throughout the change process.

Module 4: Overcoming Challenges to Change

What obstacles can arise during change, and how can you overcome them? In this module, you’ll explore common challenges such as anxiety, resistance, and scarcity mindsets. Learn about the “charisma trap” and “rigidity trap,” and how to build organizational trust and psychological safety. You’ll also apply what you’ve learned to real-world challenges, leaving with actionable ideas to address obstacles and ensure sustained success.

Audrey Barbakoff, EdD, MLIS, CEO, Co/lab Capacity LLC

Dr. Barbakoff is a passionate public library leader, consultant, speaker, and author. She helps libraries and other social good organizations facilitate engaged learning that becomes the foundation for shared creativity and resilience. Barbakoff applies human-centered design and community-led practices to help libraries develop locally relevant, sustainable innovations that lead to more equitable, diverse, and inclusive services. She specializes in topics such as strategic planning, change management, and community engagement.

Libraries and communities are constantly changing, and library leaders are expected to keep people moving through that change whether the timing feels ideal or not. This course is built to help you lead organizational change more intentionally, with practical tools for planning, communication, stakeholder engagement, and progress tracking.

Across four self-paced modules, you will explore how change actually happens in organizations, where common change efforts break down, and how structure, culture, and stakeholder relationships affect whether change sticks. You will work through the foundations of change management, learn how to engage people throughout the process, and build strategies for dealing with resistance, uncertainty, and other very normal challenges.

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 fully self-paced, asynchronous online course consisting of 4 modules. Each module includes video instruction, slides, readings, and reflective exercises designed to connect change management concepts directly to your work as a library leader.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

Each module is designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete, for a total of 16 professional development hours. You may move through the course at your own pace and on your own schedule.

COURSE ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months from the material unlock date.

CREDIT & CERTIFICATE

Complete all modules to earn 16 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion, which will be emailed to you.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration and we will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

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