September brings its own unique energy to libraries. Summer should be rolling out, but in Texas, the heat hangs on, and so do full calendars. Summer and back-to-school activities have wound down, and patron needs have shifted, but this comes with equally important demands. This month also marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, reminding us how crucial it is to prioritize not just our patrons’ well-being, but our own. As library professionals, we’re natural caregivers and information sharers, often putting others’ needs before our own.

The reality is that we can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish, it’s essential to carry on and sustain the meaningful work we do. Whether it’s managing the stress of increased programming, handling difficult patron interactions, or simply finding moments of calm on busy days, having the right tools can make all the difference.

In Part 2 of my fall tech tools series, I’m focusing on resources that support both your personal well-being and your ability to connect and share information effectively. We’ll look at simple digital self-care tools that fit busy library schedules, apps to help you stay calm and focused, and easy ways to share important resources with your community.

 A little support really does go a long way, especially when it comes from within.

Self-Care

September’s designation as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month reminds us that mental health care should be part of everyday life, not just during times of crisis. The following resources offer practical ways to incorporate self-care into busy schedules and create moments of calm throughout the workday. These tools are easy to use, and can also be shared with patrons through programming and outreach.

• Action for Happiness – This nonprofit group aims to help people build kinder, happier lives. They share simple, science-based tips for well-being, like moving your body, practicing gratitude, connecting with others, and giving back. Their most popular resource is a free monthly calendar with one small action to try each day. They also offer short courses, articles, and an app. Libraries can print the calendars or share them with patrons online.

• Insight Timer – This free app and website offers one of the largest libraries of guided sessions, calming music, sleep tracks, and live events to manage stress and mental health. You can use a session timer, join groups, and explore thousands of topics (stress, focus, sleep) at no cost; the paid plan offers courses and extras. 

• Virtual Calming Room – This resource was set up by the Sacramento City Unified School District during the pandemic, but the tools it includes remain useful anytime. The site contains quick, calming activities, like relaxing music, guided breathing and relaxation sessions, yoga videos, live animal cams, coloring, mindfulness exercises, puzzles, and helpful apps that you can use for yourself or with your patrons. 

• “10 Exercises to Do at Your Desk” – Feeling more hardcore? Go beyond and get moving without leaving your workspace with these quick and easy exercises.

• Mental Health Foundation’s podcast – This series offers short, videos about everyday mental health topics like stress, sleep, kindness, loneliness, and suicide prevention. Hosts talk with real people and experts to share practical tips you can use right away and links to learn more. It’s a good pick for quick learning and sharing with patrons.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 or using the chat at 988lifeline.org. Learn more about Suicide Prevention Month and how to help from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Information and Sharing

One of the essential tasks often performed by librarians and library staff is creating and sharing informational and instructional materials. While essential, it can also be a bit time-consuming. The tools below are resources that I’ve used before and still really like. Most are commonly-known tools, but they’ve undergone great updates recently, and the best part is that they are all free or offer freemium options.

• Scribe – This is a Google Chrome extension, but also works with Microsoft Edge, that automatically creates step-by-step guides from your screen actions, perfect for documenting processes, training others, or creating quick how-to references. It produces screenshots and text descriptions from the clicking and typing you do. 

• Iorad –  This is an oldie but a goodie. Like Scribe, Iorad is a browser extension that is used to quickly create step-by-step guides from the movements you perform on your screen. 

• Loom – With this browser extension you can create quick video walkthroughs or presentations. It captures your screen, similarly to when you record on Zoom, and lets you choose whether to include yourself on video, just your voice, or only the screen. 
  • There are some particular features that I really like about Loom. The first is that you can have it create a step-by-step procedure document generated from your video. Another thing I like is that by simply clicking a button, it removes filler words and silences from your videos. It’s also convenient that it creates a short summary and title for you. However, make sure to proofread this content as it is AI generated and may contain errors.

• Snipping Tool – Of course, then you have the classic screen capture tool that lets you snip and crop any images or text from your screen. This is not an extension but a built-in tool available on PCs. You can find it by typing Snipping Tool on your start menu. This tool only captures images of your screen, not text, so if you’re creating a how-to guide you’ll need to type the instructions separately in a document.

• Built-In QR Code Generator Feature – I love this simple tool! For those of you who don’t know, both Chrome and Edge have a built-in scannable QR code generator that will create codes for any webpage directly from the site. I used this often to link patrons quickly to event calendars and digital resources. Just right-click anywhere on the page and select “Create QR Code for this page.” This works on mobile phones too but only when using Chrome as the browser: From the page you want to create a QR code for, tap the share icon, then select “Create a QR Code.”  

• WeTransfer – This tool is one of my favorites. It is a simple way to send large files securely and quickly. Just upload, compose an email, and send. WeTransfer allows you to easily share up to 2GB free in one go, and recipients do not have to create an account or install software (as opposed to DropBox and Google Drive). Note: Recipients have three days to download the shared file before it expires if you’re using the free account.

• Translation – You can also get quick language translation of any website content through the built-in Chrome translation feature and through  Edge’s Translator and Immersive Reader to support multilingual patrons.
  • With Google Lens on your phone, you can take a picture of a written document and get an instant translation into any language.

In the last two months, news about new notable tech. that fits in the realm of translation has been released and it’s pretty amazing. Real-life seems to have caught up with science fiction!

• Google Pixel 10 – Google’s new phone translates conversations in real time, matching your voice and tone. It also works for face-to-face chats and texts. 

• Airpods Pro 3 – Apple’s new airpods feature live translation. As someone speaks to you in another language, the airpods translate what the person is saying directly into your ears in real-time, while your iPhone displays your responses in their language.

• Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta AI glasses – Both pairs let you glance at text and ask for  an English translation in real-time simply through a voice command. (Note: The Oakleys are primarily for hands-free action capture similar to a GoPro.)

Taking care of ourselves while serving our communities doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Remember, investing in your own well-being isn’t just beneficial for you; it enhances your ability to support patrons and colleagues effectively.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, where we’ll explore additional tools to help you finish the fall season strong.

Questions? Let’s connect! Have a tool to share? Send it my way and I’ll spotlight staff picks! etdominguez@tsl.texas.gov