The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration by contacting Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org. 

Description

Perimenopause and menopause affect a significant portion of the workforce, with approximately 1 in 5 U.S. workers in this life stage and up to 65% reporting impacts on work performance. Despite this, these experiences remain largely invisible in professional environments, including libraries, where expectations around productivity and professionalism often do not account for cognitive, physical, and emotional changes.

This session will explore how perimenopause and menopause intersect with librarianship, particularly during peak career and leadership years. Drawing on leadership experience, a background in clinical psychology, lived experience, and current research, the session will examine common workplace challenges such as brain fog, fatigue, emotional variability, increased healthcare needs, and the pressure to maintain performance without acknowledgment or support.

Participants will be introduced to research and evidence-based guidelines to better understand this life stage and evaluate information and treatment options. The session will also address stigma and ageism in the workplace, including how silence around menopause can impact confidence, retention, and advancement.

In addition to increasing awareness, this session will provide practical, actionable strategies for both individuals and organizations. Participants will learn approaches to self-advocacy, boundary setting, and sustainable work practices, as well as ways leaders and colleagues can create more supportive, flexible, and psychologically safe environments. The session emphasizes shifting from a productivity-only mindset to one that values expertise, judgment, and long-term sustainability.

This event is important because it addresses a widespread but under-recognized factor influencing workforce well-being, leadership, and retention in libraries. By normalizing these experiences and providing concrete strategies, the session helps participants navigate this transition more effectively while also equipping organizations to better support and retain experienced professionals.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the common cognitive, physical, and emotional impacts of perimenopause and menopause and how they may affect workplace performance.
2. Apply evidence-based strategies to support well-being, focus, and sustainable work practices during this life stage.
3. Identify ways stigma and ageism influence workplace experiences and develop approaches to reduce their impact.
4. Implement practical strategies to foster more supportive, flexible, and inclusive workplace environments.

Presenter

Dawn Behrend is the Associate Dean of Administrative Services at the University of North Florida. She holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology, an MBA, and an MLS, and she has over 20 years of experience as both a library leader and a licensed mental health professional. Her work focuses on workplace well-being, leadership, and inclusion in libraries, and she delivers workshops, courses, and talks on mental health, neurodiversity, and self-care in library settings. Dawn is active in state and national library professional associations. You can connect with Dawn on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-behrend/ or view her online portfolio at https://dvbehrend.wixsite.com/dawnbehrend.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.

Registration Instructions

This webinar will take place in the MLS Learning Hub. In order to participate, you will need to take the following steps:

1. Create your free Learning Hub account 

2. Log into your new account

3. Follow this link and fill out the brief form

Please contact Sarah Donnelly (sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org) or Hillary Washburn (hillary@masslibsystem.org) with any registration questions.