Education

MA, Information Resources and Library Science, University of Arizona
MA, Political Science, Iowa State University
Graduate Certificate, Public Management, Iowa State University
BA, History, University of Northern Iowa

Specializations 

Public libraries, community engagement, and management and leadership, fostering inclusive library environments, strengthening community connections, and advancing effective organizational practices.

Biography

Bobbi L. Newman brings to SLIS rich experience and knowledge earned through a career spanning public, academic, and special libraries, including roles in strategic leadership. Author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Handbook for Libraries and the editor of Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers; she has led national symposia and collaborations, secured major grants, and reached thousands of library workers through presentations, workshops, and webinars.

Professor Newman serves as a member of the Certification Program Committee for the Allied Professional Association–ALA, contributes to policy advocacy as a member of the Iowa Library Association’s Government Affairs Committee, and supports community health initiatives as a Let’s Move in Libraries board member.

Recent projects include leading a team to write monthly articles for Public Libraries Online (A publication of the Public Library Association) on health information, supporting public librarians in providing accurate and accessible resources to their communities. She also led a statewide advisory group addressing health disparities in underserved Iowa populations, culminating in the Mental Health Information Community Partnerships Toolkit, which offers strategic recommendations and programs to improve equitable access to mental health resources.

A frequent presenter and author on health information, well-being, leadership, and community engagement, Professor Newman has served on numerous national committees, including those with the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, OCLC, Pew Research, National Information Standards Organization (NISO), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Driven by a passion for equity, collaboration, and personal growth, Newman brings a maximizer mindset to her work, seeking to turn strengths into excellence in every project she leads.

Recent Projects and Presentations 

• Newman, B.L. (2026, Jun). You’re Not Just Tired: The 7 Types of Rest Library Workers Actually Need [Presentation]. American Library Association Conference, Chicago IL.
• Newman, B. L. & Public Library Association. (2026). News Access and Media Literacy in Public Libraries [White Paper]. Public Library Association and PressReader.
• Newman, B. L., Hughes, K., & Public Library Association. (2025). Expanding Possibilities: Public Libraries and Adult Learning—Insights and Innovations from the Field [White Paper]. Public Library Association.
• Newman, B. (2025, May 22). Thriving staff = thriving libraries: The ripple effect of well-being [Lightning talk]. ALA Editions Book Club webinar, If We Could Have Just Ten Minutes of Your Time . . . All Library Workers!
• Newman, B. L. (2025, May 27). Building stronger communities: A toolkit for mental health information partnerships. 2025 ILA/ACRL & IPAL Conference, Des Moines, IA, United States.
• Dill, E., Slingluff, L., Ortega, A., & Kendrick, K. D. (2025, April 4). Trauma-informed leadership approaches to legacy toxicity: The road to wellness [Panel]. Association of College and Research Libraries Annual Conference 2025, Minneapolis, MN, United States.

Recent Publications

• Newman, B. L., & Helmick, S. (2026, July 14). The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2026/07/14/librarianship-should-resist-credential-erosion-opinion
• Newman, B.L., Martin, C. (2026). The Public Librarian’s Guide to Answering Health Questions. ALA Editions.
• Newman, B.L. (2026). Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management. In N. Keppler (Ed.), Librarianship Beyond the Textbook. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Newman, B.L. (in press) Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management. In N. Keppler (Ed.), Beyond the Textbook. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Newman, B. L. (2025). Building psychological safety in academic libraries: Fostering innovation, well-being, and engaged teams. College & Research Libraries News, 86(5), 188-195. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.86.5.188
• Newman, B.L. (Ed.). (2025). Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers. ALA Editions.
• Newman, B. L. (2024, May 10). Libraries as beacons of support: Empowering communities during mental health awareness month Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2024/05/libraries-as-beacons-of-support-empowering-communities-during-mental-health-awareness-month/
• Newman, B.L. (2022). Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Handbook for Libraries. ALA Editions.