“We are not just providing books. We are providing connection.”
I keep thinking about the board meeting.
About showing up—finally speaking after months of silence—and then being shut down before I could even finish my statement. About watching behavior I had raised concerns about happening again, in real time, in front of the very people responsible for addressing it.
And nothing.
No intervention. No accountability. No acknowledgment.
Just silence.
If anything, it confirmed what I already knew: toxic workplace culture doesn’t stay hidden forever. It shows up. Publicly. Loudly. And when leadership ignores it, it spreads.
But at the same time, these conversations I’ve been having through Library Voices: Unfiltered? They’ve been grounding me. Reminding me that while some environments break people down, others are still trying—really trying—to build something better.
This next conversation is one of those.
For Volume 3, I spoke with Margie Mathis, Interim Director at Montgomery Area Public Library, part of the Lycoming County Library System in Pennsylvania.
A small, rural library. A small staff. A close-knit community.
And a whole lot of responsibility.
“As a small staff, we work collaboratively to manage daily operations, programming, outreach, and collection development.”
If you’ve ever worked in a small library, you already know what that means.
Everyone is doing everything.
One of the first things Margie said that stuck with me was this:
“Many people don’t realize how much work happens behind the scenes in libraries.”
We hear this a lot—but it hits differently when you understand the scale she’s working with.
“We are managing programming, community outreach, grant writing, technology support, and creating inclusive spaces… It’s a constantly evolving role.”
And she’s doing that while still building relationships in a community where everything is more personal. More visible. More connected.
We talked about challenges—and she named one that doesn’t get enough attention:
“How smaller libraries balance growing community needs with limited staffing and funding.”
This is it.
Libraries are being asked to do more than ever—social support, accessibility, programming, technology—while often operating with less.
“Libraries are expected to provide more services than ever before… while often operating with minimal resources.”
And in a small library? There’s no extra department. No backup team.
Just you. And maybe one other person.
“Limited staffing… means operating most days with just one or two people in the building while still trying to run programs, assist patrons, manage the collection, and handle administrative work.”
Let that sink in.
We also talked about leadership—specifically, the kind of leadership that requires hard conversations.
Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.
“Difficult conversations… are one of the hardest parts of this role.”
But avoiding them?
That’s where things start to break down.
“I try to focus on specific behaviors rather than making it personal… maintaining trust comes from consistency, following through, being fair, and not avoiding issues.”
That line—not avoiding issues—feels especially important.
Because I’ve seen what happens when issues are ignored. That’s what got me to where I am today.
And here’s the reality of small library leadership that doesn’t get talked about enough:
“In a small library, overwhelm is constant.”
Constant.
“Everyone is doing multiple jobs at once… I also remind them (and myself) that we can’t do everything.”
That kind of honesty? It matters. Because pretending everything is manageable doesn’t help anyone.
When we shifted to youth services, her perspective felt really grounded in what this work actually looks like in smaller communities.
“In a small, rural community, the library often serves as one of the only safe, free spaces for kids and teens.”
Not one of many.
One of the only.
“We are not just providing books. We are providing connection, structure, and sometimes stability.”
That’s the work. That’s what people don’t always see. That’s my own experience as well.
Her subscription box program is a great example of meeting people where they are.
“It provides patrons with a curated selection of books… along with themed items… creating a fun and engaging reading experience.”
And more importantly:
“It has been especially successful in reaching patrons who may not regularly visit the library.”
Because not everyone can show up in person, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be reached.
We also talked about what success looks like—especially when you can’t measure everything with numbers.
“Success… isn’t always reflected in numbers alone.”
“It’s the regulars who come in every day, the kids who feel comfortable staying after school, and the relationships we build.”
That word again: relationships.
It keeps coming up in every conversation.
And then there was this:
“One of the biggest needs I see right now is access. Not just to materials, but to experiences, social interaction, and a sense of belonging.”
Access to belonging.
That’s bigger than anything we can put in a collection.
We talked about burnout, too—because in small libraries, it’s not a possibility. It’s a reality.
“Burnout is a real concern… managing it means recognizing when I need to step back and not expecting myself to solve everything at once.”
And for staff:
“Early signs… show up as frustration, withdrawal, or decreased engagement.”
Her response?
“Acknowledging it and, where possible, adjusting expectations.”
Imagine that.
Acknowledgement.
Adjusting expectations instead of pushing people further.
It’s not rocket science.
When I asked what keeps her hopeful, her answer was simple:
“The community itself.”
Even with limited resources.
Even with the challenges.
“There is a strong desire for connection, learning, and growth.”
And this:
“Small libraries are often doing the work of much larger institutions—just with fewer resources and less visibility.”
That’s it.
That’s the reality.
After everything that happened at that board meeting, I keep thinking about what leadership looks like when it works—and when it doesn’t.
What it looks like to ignore issues… and what it looks like to face them.
What it looks like to let staff struggle… and what it looks like to support them through it.
Margie isn’t pretending it’s easy.
She’s not sugarcoating the challenges.
But she’s showing up. Being honest. Doing the work.
And that matters.
Thank you, Margie, for being an amazing advocate and supporting your staff and community! Bravo!
This is Library Voices: Unfiltered.
Real stories. Real experiences. The good, the hard, and everything in between.
And if there’s one thing I’m reminded of again and again, it’s this:
Even in difficult systems—there are still people trying to do this right.
Have a story to tell? Fill out this FORM to be considered for a future post! I’d love to hear from you!
If you enjoyed this post and want to see others like it, check out these popular posts!
*This blog is intentionally ad-free. I want it to be a clean, distraction-free space. Here, public librarians can find practical ideas for youth services, outreach, and programming. There will be no pop-ups or sponsored clutter.
Some posts may include affiliate links for books or supplies I genuinely use and recommend. If you choose to purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a simple way to support the work while getting materials for your own programs.
If you’ve found value in these ideas, please consider helping keep the blog running. Tips are always appreciated. They go directly toward hosting costs and content creation. You can do so here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/SPBXH4RPDHCCY
Leave a Reply