Oak Park receives 2023 Citation for Wellness in the Workplace
Awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA)’s Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT), this citation recognizes our library’s strategic commitment to “supporting all library staff to achieve happiness, well-being, and success.”
From the SustainRT announcement:
- “Last year, the Oak Park Public Library’s Well-Being Committee prioritized wellness through meaningful staff engagement programs such as beekeeping training, monthly conversation groups, and its annual Staff Engagement Day.
- “Beyond these programs, the intentional initiatives and policies supported by leadership in recent years have improved staff’s work-life balance and encouraged professional development. In considering the holistic well-being of its staff members, Oak Park has prioritized inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, implemented lifestyle spending accounts, and revised guidelines for flexibility at work.”
- “Additionally, their intentional equity in providing professional development to all staff through programs like tuition grants and support for conference attendance demonstrates their ongoing commitment to the long-term wellbeing of their employees. SustainRT recognizes the lasting impact of turning wellness practice into policy and commends the culture of wellness that Oak Park is creating in its workplace with this citation.”
‘Well-being activities and initiatives a priority’
“We are grateful to be recognized for the work we’ve been doing and will continue to do to improve our staff’s overall well-being,” said Director of Human Resources Billy Treece. “We appreciate everyone who has supported, informed, and worked hard to make and keep well-being activities and initiatives a priority at our library, including our library’s Well-Being Committee members and Board of Library Trustees.”
About Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT)
According to its website, the group “invites librarians, library workers and allies from all sectors, and employs a broad, holistic definition of sustainability. One founding member wrote in her institutional newsletter, “SustainRT will give us a place within ALA to share best practices, research and help galvanize our efforts.”
