WLA Trauma-Informed Libraries Summit: Leading with Compassion

Friday, November 14, 2025 | Online

Library workers in all types of libraries and job roles can experience complex trauma and stress while carrying out their work, which can lead to dissatisfaction, compassion fatigue, and a host of other negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Some even decide to leave the field altogether. However, libraries can significantly prevent and mitigate these impacts through the cultivation of compassionate leadership and trauma-informed support for their staff.

Join us for a day of virtual sessions for the essential knowledge library leaders need to establish, encourage, and maintain trauma-informed library workplaces. What does the latest data tell us about what staff experience on the front lines of library work? How are leaders innovating with trauma-informed care in academic, public, school, and special libraries? How can staff be empowered to advocate for themselves and lead from every level, regardless of their job role within the library? We’ll explore these questions and more with mental health experts, leading researchers, compassionate leaders, and frontlines practitioners.

Who is the Trauma-Informed Libraries Summit for?

While the Summit has a leadership lens, the content will be relevant for anyone and everyone who works in a library (academic, public, school, or special), regardless of whether they’re in an official leadership capacity. The audience includes frontline staff alongside managers, supervisors, directors, department heads, deans, etc.

Statewide Access

For this virtual event, WLA is once again excited to allow state libraries or state library associations to purchase a pass to grant all library staff in their state online access to the Summit! An all-access pass will allow staff from all levels, roles, and career stages to attend for a flat fee, based on the average number of library employees in your state. Pricing tiers are based on the estimated number of library employees in the state/area. Full pricing chart with individual area pricing, total employees per area, price per employee, and sources will be available soon! All sessions will be recorded and made available to all registrants.

Session Recordings

Links to the recordings and presenter materials will be emailed to all registrants within one week of the live event on Friday, November 14. Access to the summit recordings will be available through November 14, 2026. Registration to request the summit recordings will remain open through October 14, 2026.

If you have any questions, contact the WLA Office at [email protected] or (206) 823-1138.