Introducing Julie Jurgens: Programs for Your RA for All Youth Needs

One of the most common questions I get after doing my RA training programs, which are adult services forward, is: Do you offer training specifically for youth services staff? Now, to be fair I do have a few programs I have altered to use with those who serve kids and teens, but it is not my speciality. 

When I have a client that wanted the "Becky" version of serving readers but with a youth expert focus, I would send them to my colleague Julie Jurgens, because like me, she speaks the direct truth, no matter how uncomfortable it will make those who listen and learn. And she has been doing this almost as long as I have.

Until recently, though, Julie was too busy to help as many people as I had requests from. Well no longer. Julie has cut back her hours at the library and is committed to growing her training programs so that she can reach more people.

I asked Julie to write up an introduction to herself and her programs for all of my readers. Below is that post. Before I hand off to Julie though, I want to be very clear. I 100% trust and recommend Julie to provide the type of training I would do if I were as much of an excerpt in serving children and their families as she is.

Check out the links at the end of her post and click here to contact Julie for your training needs. 

Now if you will excuse me, I will be volunteering at my local elementary school library all morning. 

Take it away Julie...

Julie Jurgens

librarian, storyteller, speaker

I’ve been working in libraries since 2006, and with children and their families since 2001. I’ve worked in youth services exclusively, in positions as varied as an early literacy librarian, teen librarian, school outreach librarian, and an assistant department head, and I’ve worked at both large, well funded libraries and smaller, less resourced libraries.

The breadth of my experience has given me the knowledge and personal learning network that allows me to speak on a wide variety of topics. With a background in education, storytelling, theater, and stand up comedy, I am able tailor my presentations and workshops for a variety of audiences, spaces, and venues. I love working to assignment so that your specific needs can be addressed and your particular questions answered. 

Everything I do is through a lens of inclusion and equity. As a disabled librarian, I want to make sure my resources and workshops are accessible to everyone. I believe in trauma informed librarianship, which is where one applies the concept of Trauma Informed Approach to library work. Trauma Informed Approach (TIA) is a concept that came out of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminstration. Trauma informed librarianship essentially acknowledges that human beings--both staff and patrons--are carrying trauma, and that trauma needs to be taken into consideration in our day to day interactions. 

I also center the primary mission of libraries, which is providing everyone with equitable access to good information. (If you want to poke the bear and instigate a rant, just say “Libraries are more than just books!” around me and watch me go!) Through information we gain knowledge. Sometimes the information we need is fact-based, and other times it is story based, and the majority of people who come to the library want that information in the form of a book.

I also choose to see all library services through the lens of story--every patron we come in contact with has a story that brought them to us. Some stories involve printing a boarding pass so they can finally take that trip to see their new nibling, and other stories involve finding a beloved picture book from their youth so they can feel connected to the now departed grandparent who read it to them every summer vacation. 

The stories never stop, making librarianship  an ever evolving profession, and even those who’ve earned the MLIS degree need to continue learning so they can do their best work. And there is no shortage of resources out there--every day there are hundreds of courses, workshops, and webinars on offer, to say nothing of the journals and social media feeds.

But sometimes you need something that isn’t prepackaged or one size fits all. I think we’ve all been in that conference session where the Q&A period ends up being a series of very specific, very complex problems that can’t be fully addressed by a broadly focused workshop or webinar. And that’s where I’d like to step in. 

Ok, so that’s the “professional” part out of the way. Here’s the most important part: I’m committed to speaking the truth. This means I research everything I do, of course, but I’m also referring to truth in a larger sense-- capital “T” Truth, perhaps. I am always going to say the hard thing. The awkward thing. The thing that you sit in meetings and conferences and workshops and think to yourself, and wish someone would say, but you’re not brave enough (yet) to say it. The thing that management and administration need to hear. Things like:

• neutrality is bullshit;

• there’s no way to ethically use generative AI and libraries should be pushing back instead of giving in;

• children and teens deserve access and have a right to privacy the same as adults;

• libraries have a “nice white lady” problem;

• library leaders need to have more ethical courage and advocate for their staff;

• and we can’t be everything to everyone.

  
  

 I will say it, not because I am necessarily the most brave, but because it’s the right thing to do. I will say it, and hope that my saying it will give  you the bravery to say it, too. Because without the truth, what are we even doing any of this for? Without the truth, how are we ever going to move forward?

So let’s talk. 

https://himissjulie.com/
Julie Jurgens Workshops

JJurgens Speaking and Presentaions