The Power of Play: Sparking Belonging, Curiosity,
Berkeley Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
This program reimagines professional development through play, drawing on Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory and maker-centered learning practices to help staff thrive even in times of limited capacity. By fostering curiosity and hands-on exploration, it strengthens professional skills while modeling openness and belonging for patrons. A central innovation is its emphasis on collaboration across library classifications, which creates equitable pathways to promotion and dismantles hierarchical barriers that often divide staff. Through playful activities and open-ended prompts, participants experience new approaches to problem-solving, deeper collaboration, and renewed connection to their humanity in service-driven environments. The program proves that play is not frivolous but fundamental to building equity, resilience, and joy in libraries.
Challenge/Opportunity
Libraries often reflect the inequities of larger government institutions, where hierarchy limits participation and advancement opportunities. Too often, professional opportunities are reserved for those with MLIS degrees, leaving many staff without pathways to grow. This program addresses that challenge by using play to dismantle barriers and foster equity across classifications. Drawing on flow theory and maker-centered learning, it creates opportunities for all staff to collaborate, experiment, and build professional skills. When staff engage playfully across roles, they not only transform workplace culture but also signal to the community that the library is a place of openness, curiosity, and belonging. This strengthens trust, expands program diversity, and reaffirms the library as a collaborative partner with the community it serves.
Key Elements of Innovation
This innovation is led by a cross-classification team of staff who design, test, and teach projects together, building skills while supporting one another. Key partners include staff across roles, Bay Area makerspaces, K–12 teachers, and the library’s IT and EDI departments. Activities range from electronics and coding to sewing, arts and crafts, 3-D design, and stop-motion animation. What makes this initiative unique is its disruption of traditional library hierarchies by creating pathways for learning across classifications and elevating staff who have not always been recognized as leaders. Staff are encouraged to share passions and expertise, reshaping assumptions about who is valuable in library work. By inviting the community to co-create programs alongside staff, the library deepens trust, expands program relevance, and models collaboration. This approach is cutting-edge because it reframes professional development as playful, equity-centered, and rooted in shared creativity.
Achieved Outcomes
Success is measured through surveys, attendance data, and staff collaboration across classifications. Community surveys show high demand, with requests for expanded offerings such as costume labs and a program that travels between branches. Attendance and participation rates demonstrate strong engagement, while staff report gaining valuable skills and opportunities to lead. New partnerships with Berkeley Unified School District mirror technology available in schools so students can extend projects at the library. Collaborations with Bay Area makerspaces and K–12 teachers also expand program capacity. Key indicators of success include increased participation, stronger cross-role collaboration, and responsive program growth based on community input. Feedback from both staff and patrons affirms that the program builds belonging, supports professional development for all staff, and strengthens the library’s role as an equity-driven, community-centered hub for creativity and learning.
