In an era where libraries serve as vital community hubs, the concept of kindness in pedagogy offers a transformative approach to fostering inclusive and supportive environments. This presentation will explore the pedagogy of kindness, drawing on the influential work of Cate Denial, and its profound implications for libraries.
Cate Denial's pedagogy emphasizes empathy, compassion, and the creation of caring educational spaces. By integrating these principles, libraries can become more than just repositories of knowledge; they can evolve into anchors of community well-being. This session will delve into practical strategies for implementing kindness in library services, programming, and interactions with patrons.
Participants will learn how to:
- Apply Cate Denial's principles to create welcoming and inclusive library environments.
- Brainstorm and share examples of empathy and compassion in libraries.
- Foster a culture of kindness among library staff and patrons.
Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will gain insights into how libraries can build caring communities even during times of uncertainty. Join us to discover how the pedagogy of kindness can transform your library into a beacon of compassion and empathy.
About the PresentersJennifer Seagraves started in September of 2021 as the Instructional Pedagogy and Curriculum Materials Librarian, a position replacing the prior Curriculum Materials/Media Librarian with the additional charge of creating a Teaching Resource Center to support Strategic Plan Initiative 1.5 (“establish a program for teaching excellence”). She is the liaison for School of Education and Human Services. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Virginia (2005) and a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2012). She has served as the President of the North Carolina Community College Library Association from 2020-2021. She also is a certified yoga instructor.
Hannah Holmes works as the Reference and Instruction Librarian at Wiggins Memorial Library, serving as a liaison librarian for the following disciplines: Clinical Research, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Pharmacy Practice/DIC. She joined the Library staff in 2022 as the Circulation Assistant until 2023, rejoining the Library in 2024 as a Librarian. In her previous position, Hannah aided in building and growing the Student Art Gallery in the Library, which promotes and showcases student work from all disciplines across campus. Hannah earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Minor in Biology from Campbell University in 2021, receiving the Mabel Powell English Award of Excellence that same year. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2022-2024 where she earned her Master of Science in Library Science, concentrating in Archives and Records Management. During her studies, Hannah worked in donor relations and stewardship, and was inducted into the Beta Phi Mu International Honor Society for Library and Information Science.
