Think Like a Librarian Podcast

In this episode, you'll learn... Why weekly reviews are about visibility, not control—and how that changes everything How lack of regular calendar reviews can lead to preventable scheduling conflicts What weeding means in library science—and why your task list needs it too The MUSTIE framework for deciding what to let go of (Misleading, Superseded, Trivial, Irrelevant, Elsewhere) How to implement your own Weekly Review: a 4-step framework you can actually sustain How to tell urgency, importance, and noise apart—and why the Eisenhower Matrix only gets you partway there How preparation through mini-reviews transforms panic into confident response Why location is a design decision—and how to put your review where you actually go How to track energy instead of time when choosing commitments What to do when the system breaks down  Stories from the Library The Library Event Planning Surprise How I got blindsided by an email asking me to change the date of a major library event (the Jewish American Heritage Celebration) because I hadn't been checking the shared programming calendar regularly. If I'd been doing weekly reviews, I would have spotted the scheduling conflict weeks earlier—before telling community partners about the date. From panic to confidence: After receiving that stressful email, I spent the evening doing a mini-review—scanning calendars, checking reservations, gathering context. The next morning, I walked into the meeting prepared. It turned out fine. My daily page reflection captured it: "things have a way of working out better than I feared." The review helped me respond instead of react. Episode Takeaway Weekly reviews aren't about perfection. They're about presence. Knowing what's on your plate is a kindness you give yourself—so you can stop carrying it all in your head. And letting go of what no longer serves you? That's not failure. That's good collection management. Episode 006: Visibility Without Burnout - The Librarian's Weekly Review Featured Segment: Workflow Wisdom The Librarian's Weekly Review: Scan your inboxes (email, calendar, notes, tasks) — just to see what's there Triage — what's urgent vs. important vs. noise? Choose 3 commitments — what are you actually committing to this week? Weed 3 stale items — let go of three things that have been sitting untouched Design your system for your worst days. A system that only works when you're at full capacity isn't a system — it's a performance. The minimum viable version (one inbox scanned, one commitment written down) still counts. Consistency isn't a streak; it's a rhythm you can return to. On triage: Urgency is objective. Importance is subjective — and that's the part most advice skips. When you can't tell the difference, ask: Does this move me toward something I actually want? And watch for noise wearing urgency's costume. Finding Aids: What's Mentioned in this Episode Concepts & Frameworks: Weekly reviews, originally from David Allen's Getting Things Done book Weeding, a core part of library collection management (from the American Library Association's Policy Toolkit)...

You saved it, filed it, and now it’s gone. This episode explores why naming is the invisible make-or-break step in any system. You’ll use controlled vocabularies and the Search Test to name for retrieval. You’ll walk away able to find what you saved without guessing.

You blocked the time, but your brain still wasn’t available. This episode explores why time-based planning fails when energy is variable. You’ll use energy-based planning and a three-tier task list. You’ll walk away knowing what to do on high-, medium-, and low-capacity days.

Why systems fail smart people isn’t a motivation problem—it’s a design problem. In this episode, Meredith explores why smart, capable people fall off courses and memberships, and what librarian-grade thinking reveals about systems that actually work in real life. You’ll learn how to build (or choose) humane systems with re-entry points instead of shame spirals. Walk away with the Re-Entry Ramp framework—and a lot less blame for that abandoned progress bar.

You've tried the systems, the apps, the planners — and still feel behind. This episode introduces what it means to think like a librarian: a new mental model for organization, creativity, and tech. Librarian thinking treats systems as care, not control, built for real humans. You'll walk away with a framework for more curiosity and less overwhelm.

You’re tired of tools that promise clarity but leave you overwhelmed. This trailer introduces Think Like a Librarian and how librarian-grade thinking can make your systems calmer and more humane. You’ll use an information-literacy lens to rethink how you organize and choose tools. You’ll leave knowing who the show is for and what you’ll practice each week.