black.p65 Humor in the Academic Library 165 Humor in the Academic Library: You Must Be Joking! or, How Many Academic Librarians Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb? Leah Black and Denise Forro In an effort to improve profits and productivity for employers and the quality of work life for employees, many U.S. companies have begun to embrace humor in the workplace. Humor is thought to be a means to promote teamwork, reduce stress, stimulate creativity, and improve com­ munication, morale, and productivity. Initiatives in business have included official programs such as creation of “humor rooms” for employee use as well as less-structured mechanisms such as encouraging the use of humor in memos and staff newsletters. This investigation discusses ap­ propriate and potentially helpful applications of workplace humor to en­ hance the work atmosphere in academic libraries. ownsizing, limited monetary re­ wards, added responsibilities, and constant exhortation to “do more with less” has resulted in a disgruntled, dissatisfied, dismal, and disease-prone workforce. As society in­ creasingly values leisure, equating leisure (play) with fun and work with drudgery, today’s workers are actively seeking ways to make work more enjoyable and the workplace more humane. The benefits of humor on the psychological and physi­ ological well-being of workers has been the subject of study for many years and recently has earned the attention of man­ agement and human resource offices across the country. Humor can be defined in many differ­ ent ways. In a standard dictionary, humor is defined as “that quality in a happen­ ing, an action, a situation, or an expres­ sion of ideas which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous: comic or amusing quality.”1 Applied in the workplace, humor is viewed as a means to promote teamwork, reduce stress, stimulate creativity, and improve communication, morale, and productiv­ ity. Humor also can be a tool to enhance personal well-being. It does not necessar­ ily need to flow from management to staff but can be embraced on a personal level. Health professionals suggest that main­ taining a sense of humor can reduce per­ sonal stress and lower blood pressure, changes that can be measured in physi­ ological and psychological terms.2,3 Leah Black is Assistant Acquisitions Librarian/Cataloger in the Michigan State University Libraires at Michigan State University; e-mail: blackl@mainlib3.lib.msu.edu. Denise Forro is Head of the Informa­ tion and Referral Center in the Michigan State University Libraries at Michigan State University; e- mail: forro@pilot.msu.edu. 165 mailto:forro@pilot.msu.edu mailto:blackl@mainlib3.lib.msu.edu 166 College & Research Libraries March 1999 The many serious articles and books about humor in the workplace prompted an examination of the application of hu­ mor in academic libraries. Academic in­ stitutions generally do not enjoy reputa­ tions as breeding grounds for humor, and the libraries associated with these insti­ tutions tend to reflect the institutions they serve. So, in what ways can the use of humor help an academic library effec­ tively fulfill its mission? Overview of Humor Literature and Internet Sites To begin answering this question, pub­ lished materials and Internet sites on vari­ ous aspects of the topic were identified. Although this was not an extensive lit­ erature review, the authors perused a va­ riety of articles and sites representing current perspectives in the fields of li­ brary science, business, psychology, edu­ cation, and social sciences, focusing on both individual concerns and present applications in the workplace. The correlation between humor and creativity has been investigated by a num­ ber of researchers. In one study, research­ ers administered both creativity and hu­ mor measures to eighty-six mental health professionals and found a “significant and positive” relationship between hu­ mor and creativity scores. The study con­ cluded that humor and creativity are re­ lated “in that both involve some risk-tak­ ing and the production of unexpected and unusual responses.”4 Research into the physical and psycho­ logical benefits of humor is fairly recent, though it generally is believed that a posi­ tive relationship exists. The experiences of Norman Cousins in the late 1970s popularized the belief that laughter pro­ motes healing and helps people deal with life’s adversities. One researcher notes, however, that much of the evidence cited to date linking humor with good health and psychological well-being is anecdotal and that more empirical study is needed.5 Humor is free and available to anyone, so it is important to know the effects of humor and the extent to which it can help people deal with sickness and stress. De­ veloping a sense of humor and actively incorporating humor into daily life “has at least one major advantage over most other coping mechanisms: It is fun.”6 The correlation between humor and creativity has been investigated by a number of researchers. In an effort to improve working con­ ditions and increase profits, many corpo­ rations are hiring humor consultants (The HUMOR Project, Funny Business, C.W. Metcalf & Co., and Playfair, to name a few) and instituting a variety of humor- related programs in the workplace. Re­ ported advantages to such programs in­ clude enhanced creativity, team spirit, motivation and morale, happier working relationships, increased productivity, bet­ ter communication among workers, less absenteeism and stress, and better mar­ keting.7 Humor helps employees adapt to and cope with change, and can better en­ able them to make their feelings and needs known to upper management.8 Humor consultants stress that humor is a learned response, not something a person automatically possesses. Accord­ ing to consultant C.W. Metcalf, the humor skills required include “the ability to see the absurdity in difficult situations, the ability to take yourself lightly while tak­ ing your work seriously, and a disciplined sense of joy in being alive.”9 When ap­ plied in a workplace setting, a key con­ cept to constructive humor applications is that of recognizing and acknowledg­ ing the difference between “childlike” and “childish” behavior. Joel Goodman of the HUMOR Project explains that “childlike behavior can lead to more cre­ ative thoughts and actions [whereas] childish behavior can become an interfer­ ence to the productivity of the work­ place.”10 Dealing effectively with what one hu­ mor professional terms maladaptive stress and terminal professionalism are important goals of humor initiatives in Humor in the Academic Library 167 business. Maladaptive stress is an “inabil­ ity to cope with change,” whereas termi­ nal professionalism (TP) may be defined in terms of a work atmosphere that em­ braces stress and overwork, resulting in massive worker burnout; TP is “the self- fulfilling prophecy in the expression ‘dead serious.’”11 In Japan, the term Karoshi is applied to a “condition in which psychologically unsound work processes are allowed to continue in a way that dis­ rupts the worker’s normal work and life rhythms, leading to a buildup of fatigue in the body and a chronic condition of overwork accompanied by a worsening of preexisting high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries, finally result­ ing in a fatal breakdown.”12 Humor consultants have worked with major companies such as Manville, Herman Miller, Hewlett-Packard, Wells Fargo, AT&T, Dupont, Kodak, IBM, and Ben & Jerry’s. Applications of the con­ cepts learned have been varied and cre­ ative, from simply incorporating humor­ ous items in a company newsletter to es­ tablishing “humor rooms” for employees to use when feeling especially stressed. Humor programs can be especially suc­ cessful when initiated from senior execu­ tives downward in an organization. At Southwest Airlines, one of the most prof­ itable airlines in the United States, CEO Herbert Kelleher actively participates in humor initiatives, including reportedly arriving at a company maintenance hanger in the middle of the night in an outrageous costume. But humor can also have a negative effect in the workplace. Sarcastic or sexual humor, humor used as a “power play” or to challenge authority, humor employed as a means of excluding others, or humor that is used to undermine, belittle, or humiliate an individual is not appropri­ ate. In addition, efforts to define what is acceptable and what is not can be frus­ trating, time- consuming, and futile. Hu­ mor, like justice and fair play, cannot be legislated. In addition to the information available in traditional print sources, the Internet offers a smorgasbord of humor-related sites. Searching the Internet with any of the various search engines will locate a multitude of sites. As is true regarding all Internet searching, inappropriate and of­ fensive humor sites will be found, and the addresses may change without advance notice. Humor programs can be especially successful when initiated from senior executives downward in an organization. Several categories of Internet humor information were identified. The first cat­ egory represents the educational or train­ ing aspects of using humor in one’s life and work. The HUMOR Project’s Web site (http://www.humorproject.com/) in­ cludes humorous selections, articles, con­ ference information, and a speaker ’s bu­ reau. The intent is not only to bring laugh­ ter to the workplace, but also to educate employers and employees in the benefits of humor. A similar site, HumorMatters (http://www.humormatters.com/) also seeks to entertain, inform, and educate. There are associations dedicated to the ad­ vancement of humor as therapy, as evi­ denced by the Web site for the American Association for Therapeutic Humor (http://ideanurse.com/aath/). In addi­ tion to large organizations, a number of individual consultants were located. Next are humorous and entertaining sites that do not target a specific segment of the Internet community. These pages can be gleaned for jokes, cartoons, and stories that may help to enliven staff newsletters, memos, and bulletin boards. An interesting site that combines visual effects (using JAVA) and audio clips is The Funny Pages! “Welcome to HA” (http:// www.bonk.com/). This site offers a “joke of the day,” its own search engine that may be used to find specific jokes, and a substantial archive that may be viewed in reverse chronological order. A similar page is Funny Town (http://www. funnytown.com), which consists of dif­ ferent types of jokes, stories, and quota­ http:funnytown.com http://www http:www.bonk.com http://ideanurse.com/aath http:http://www.humormatters.com http:http://www.humorproject.com 168 College & Research Libraries March 1999 tions, and requests for additional material. Pages such as The Borderline by Gabe Mar­ tin (http://www.the-borderline.com/) offer free cartoons. Many other humorous and fun pages are available. Some sites cater to a particular profes­ sion or career. To assist health profession­ als in incorporating humor into the work­ place, various groups and individuals have placed humor pages on the Web. The Journal of Nursing Jocularity (http:// www.jocularity.com/) is a fine example of Web humor for the medical profes­ sional. As is true with many Internet hu­ mor-related sites, those visiting sites tar­ geted to health professionals must keep in mind the intended audience. The hu­ mor is derived from common experiences in medicine and directed toward health workers in particular; those from outside the field may not understand the humor and, in fact, may find the stories and jokes somewhat offensive. Similarly, the Lip­ stick Librarian (http://www.teleport. com/~petlin/liplib/) is intended for those in librarianship, and the jokes may not be of interest or appear humorous to individuals who do not work in librar­ ies. Celebrating special theme days can promote fun in the workplace, especially in areas staffed largely by student assistants. Finally, specific cartoon characters live not only in the newspapers but also ani­ mate the Web. For example, that old cur­ mudgeon feline, Garfield, can be found at http://www.garfield.com/. Visitors may view current comic strips and pur­ chase the latest in Garfield parapherna­ lia at this site. The Dilbert Zone (http:// www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/) offers humor in the same vein, though the humor is directed toward the workplace environment—a perfect combination of humor and the workplace and, naturally, a popular site. As is the case with the Garfield site, souvenirs are available for purchase, so a visitor may enjoy a chuckle and purchase a T-shirt from the same Web site. Although the Internet manifests some offensive and distasteful elements, it is nonetheless a valuable mechanism for finding and sharing humor in the work­ place. Although humorous articles on librar­ ies and librarians occasionally appear in the library literature and on the Internet through sites such as the Lipstick Librar­ ian, humor initiatives in academic librar­ ies have not been widely reported. The experiences reported by Susan M. Vazakas and Susan B. Whyte are excep­ tions. Vazakas describes the methods she employs to lighten the atmosphere in her workplace. Whyte uses humor as “a won­ derful vehicle for transferring informa­ tion painlessly.”13 However, in a bibliog­ raphy appearing in a 1994 issue of the Unabashed Librarian, compiler Roberta L. Tipton notes that “the most appalling part of preparing this bibliography was the dearth of solid, recent articles on humor [in] library management.”14 A common thread identified in the printed literature and Internet sites was the use of services offered by humor con­ sultants and other formal training pro­ grams. Investigation of training was iden­ tified as the logical next step, so arrange­ ments were made for the authors to at­ tend the 12th International Conference on the Positive Power of Humor and Creativity. The Humor Conference Sponsored by the Humor Project, the con­ ference was held in Saratoga Springs, New York, on April 18–20, 1997. The project’s goal was “to provide services, programs, and resources that improve the effectiveness and quality of life of indi­ viduals, groups and organizations.” In addition to the conference, services in­ cluded a speaker ’s bureau and a source for books, tapes, videos, kits, and pro­ grams geared toward incorporating the power of humor and creativity in life and work. Conference attendees included rep­ resentatives from many nationally known corporations as well as health care and education professionals. The conference featured four keynote www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert http:http://www.garfield.com http://www.teleport http:www.jocularity.com http:http://www.the-borderline.com Humor in the Academic Library 169 presentations, entertainment by a musi­ cal satire troupe, and four opportunities to participate in smaller, formal group sessions on specific topics. During those times when formal presentations were not scheduled, attendees had the opportunity to sample a variety of humor and creativ­ ity “potpourri”—an exhibit hall complete with the HUMOResources bookstore; special showings of videos; Tai Chi exer­ cise sessions; clowns, jugglers, puppe­ teers, and magicians mingling with the crowd; and a special “6 in 60” event in which six conference participants shared their work with humor in ten-minute pre­ sentations. Attending the conference proved ben­ eficial in that it provided firsthand expo­ sure to the ideas of the experts in the field. Using humor to lead a more productive and creative life is dependent upon an individual’s capacity for identifying and focusing on the humorous aspects of ev­ eryday life. Physical and mental health benefits for the individual may be real­ ized through the development and imple­ mentation of a personal action plan grounded in the commitment to main­ taining a positive perspective. The idea that people take themselves too seriously was a common theme, with this habit highlighted as a significant cause of per­ sonal stress. Incorporating humor into the work­ place requires sensitivity to different in­ dividual personality types and corporate cultures, and an understanding that hu­ mor is not a one-size-fits-all prescription for success. Understanding the causes of stress and the mechanics of positive stress management is an important element in improving personal relationships, strengthening teamwork, and enhancing one’s ability to deal with difficult situa­ tions and difficult people. Humor in Academic Libraries How can these philosophies and tactics be applied in an academic library envi­ ronment? The serious nature of academic research, teaching, and dissemination of knowledge does not typically produce an atmosphere of jocularity; academic librar­ ies, as a part of the larger academic com­ munity, naturally reflect this serious at­ mosphere. However, libraries can and should reap the benefits of supporting humor in the workplace—better interper­ sonal communication, improved team­ work, and enhanced personal job satis­ faction—while acknowledging the serious and vital nature of the services they provide. Applications for Management From a management perspective, some of the most effective humor initiatives may well be the simplest. Creating a humor wall or bulletin board with appropriate cartoons and posted quotes can add a lighthearted touch to a work area. Cel­ ebrating special theme days can promote fun in the workplace, especially in areas staffed largely by student assistants. Spe­ cial themes might include a favorite T- shirt or Hawaiian shirt day, a funny hat day, or a political button day. A library staff lounge humor resource section could be a haven for the irreverent. Games and contests can be effective ways to encourage staff participation and interaction. At the Michigan State Univer­ sity Libraries, the biennial staff tea was the occasion for a contest in which staff matched baby pictures of colleagues with current photos. A prize was awarded to the person who made the most correct guesses. On another occasion, a murder mystery game was developed in conjunc­ tion with the libraries’ technical services reorganization planning to encourage staff to work together in teams. Supported by library management, a planning com­ mittee selected a “victim” (a staff mem­ ber), a “weapon” (a card catalog drawer rod), the scene of the “crime” (a work­ room in technical services), a “murderer” (another staff member), and a series of clues. To uncover clues, staff were re­ quired to use standard library reference tools and library utilities such as OCLC. Participation was voluntary. “Some staff chose not to participate,” commented Sue Ward, the murder “victim” and library 170 College & Research Libraries March 1999 assistant III in the Database Management Team, “although those who did had an enjoyable experience and made new friends in the process. As the “victim,” I couldn’t participate in solving the crime, but it was fun to watch other staff mem­ bers uncover the clues.” At the conclusion of the game, all materials used in the cre­ ation and implementation of the game were cataloged and included in the librar­ ies’ special collections unit.15 Humor can be incorporated into li- The negative side of humor, includ­ ing sarcasm and sexual or ethnic references, should be left at the door of the workplace before entering. brary communications, staff recognition efforts, and staff meetings. Written com­ munication is one area where a little hu­ mor can be especially effective. “In work­ place writing, many people assume a per­ sona, don a dour attitude and avoid us­ ing humor, thinking they may not be taken seriously if they do.”16 Incorporat­ ing humor in written communications can grab the reader ’s attention and stimu­ late interest in the message being con­ veyed. When seeking an apology or issu­ ing a reprimand, a memo that begins with an amusing anecdote may make the mes­ sage easier to accept. Administrative support is essential if formal programs are preferred. Attempt­ ing to incorporate humor initiatives with­ out administrative support may succeed only in alienating staff and managers alike, almost guaranteeing a long struggle to implement a meaningful program. When humor is incorporated into work relationships by management, it is very important to ensure that such activi­ ties are appropriate. The negative side of humor, including sarcasm and sexual or ethnic references, should be left at the door of the workplace before entering. Management should be particularly sen­ sitive to inimical behavior and malevolent intent. In such cases, supervisors should and must take quick and suitable action. Personal Applications Individual staff members may employ a variety of tactics to increase personal sat­ isfaction and reduce stress. In its purest form, humor is an intensely personal phe­ nomenon—it is a choice, a conscious de­ cision, an approach to life. Although free­ dom from stress is not guaranteed, an individual may increase his or her chances of avoiding or lessening its harm­ ful effects by choosing to find the humor­ ous side of an issue or situation. Devel­ oping a healthy sense of humor may not prevent or cure disease, but it may en­ hance an individual’s ability to cope more satisfactorily with trying times. But if humor is to be a positive force and not a destructive one, it cannot stem from hos­ tility and anger; rather, it must be the product of a personal philosophy that is grounded in respect for others. As Joel Goodman of the HUMOR Project recommends, discover the “elf” in yourself. Post your favorite cartoons in your work area, or share humorous sto­ ries and anecdotes with colleagues via e- mail. Try arriving at the next staff meet­ ing wearing a clown nose or a funny hat. Locate and make use of “humor allies”— imagine how your favorite television sitcom character or cartoon personality would react to the issue at hand.17 Concentrate on developing and consis­ tently implementing a positive perspec­ tive. When a project does not turn out quite right or a carefully planned service or event is less than successful, look for solutions, not fault. Work toward react­ ing with amusement rather than anger when a patron or coworker says or does something inappropriate or unkind. Fear and mirth cannot coexist; recognizing and working to overcome destructive thought patterns and finding and appreciating the humorous aspects of experiences and situations is fundamental to “de-stress­ ing” our lives. Cope with stress through reframing, or gaining control over, perceptions of events and not control over the events themselves. This concept is illustrated by the following story: Humor in the Academic Library 171 As a young teacher was writing an assignment on the chalk board, she was startled by a sudden noise in her classroom. Unbeknownst to her, the students had all conspired to drop one book onto the floor at ex­ actly 10:14 a.m. At that point the teacher had three options as she turned to face the class. She could have punished the whole class for their outburst, but this could erode the existing classroom rapport. She could have ignored the whole situ­ ation, but this could have encour­ aged the students to think of more pranks to play in the future. Instead, the teacher walked to her desk and dropped one of her own books onto the floor with the following reply: “Sorry, I’m a little bit late!”18 Acknowledge the fact that humor styles and an individual’s ability to per­ ceive humor are as diverse as any other personal characteristic. What is hilari­ ously funny to one person may not be at all amusing to another. In addition, the degree to which an individual is either personally involved in or personalizes an event or process may govern his or her ability to appreciate the humor in a situa­ tion.19 For this reason, the use of humor in certain situations (including crisis situ­ ations) must be handled delicately. For example, a young librarian, a new pro­ fessional, was given a complicated, time- consuming assignment that demanded the highest standard of accuracy—a bib­ liographic instruction workbook. The librarian’s supervisor stressed the need for an error-free product. Eager to be viewed a success in a new job, the librar­ ian subconsciously linked personal suc­ cess on the job with the production of a perfect workbook. After working in­ tensely on the project for weeks, errors were detected by the librarian’s col­ leagues after the final product was printed and a “mistake-o-meter” was de­ vised to chart the error rate. Although the humor was sincerely directed at the situ­ ation and was not intended to belittle the individual, the librarian who had worked so hard on the workbook, and for whom an error-free product and job success were synonymous, was unable to see the hu­ mor. What is hilariously funny to one person may not be at all amusing to another. Humor should be focused on appro­ priate targets, such as an inanimate ob­ ject (the copy machine or the new com­ puter system) or personal foibles, not on another individual. Laughing at others is insensitive and divisive; laughing with others builds positive rapport. But it is important to recognize that self-deprecat­ ing humor can backfire if overused.20 A worker who frequently tells stories illus­ trating his or her tendency to be scatter­ brained or disorganized may lead co­ workers and supervisors to believe it to be true. How Many Academic Librarians Does It Take . . .? In these rapidly changing times, humor may be a key to controlling stress, pro­ moting good health, and encouraging positive work relationships. As the litera­ ture suggests, people who enjoy their work are more productive and creative, and because they are more satisfied with their jobs, they tend to promote better morale in the workplace. Even if a librarywide program is not workable or feasible, embracing humor on a personal level can be an effective means of improv­ ing the work experience. So how many academic librarians does it take to change a lightbulb? There are many possible answers to this puzzling question, and only you know which is correct in your library, but for academic libraries in general the answer could be eight—seven to form a committee to de­ termine if it really needs changing, and one to change the bulb! http:overused.20 172 College & Research Libraries March 1999 Notes 1. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged (Spring­ field, Mass.: G. and C. Merriam Company), s.v. “humor.” 2. William F. Fry, “The Physiologic Effects of Humor, Mirth, and Laughter,” JAMA 267, no. 13 (Apr. 1992): 1857–58. 3. James A. Thorson et.al, “Psychological Health and Sense of Humor” Journal of Clinical Psychology 53, no. 6 (Oct. 1997): 605–19. 4. Christiane Humke and Charles E. Schaefer, “Sense of Humor and Creativity,” Perceptual and Motor Skills 82 (Apr. 1996): 546. 5. Timothy Eugene Spruill, “Sense of Humor as a Mediator of the Effects of Stress on Physi­ cal Health and Psychological Well-being” (Ph.D. diss., Western Michigan Univ., 1992), 110. 6. Brian Richard Humphreys, “A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine: The Emotional and Physi­ cal Benefits of Humor” (Ph.D. diss., Biola Univ., 1990), 44. 7. Robert Holden, “Enjoyment in Employment: How to Utilize the Power of Laughter, Humour and a Winning Smile at Work,” Employee Counseling Today 5, no. 4 (1993): 18–19. 8. Bodil Jones, “I Guess You Had to Be There,” Management Review 85, no. 10 (Oct. 1996): 55. 9. Joseph F. McKenna, “The Workplace: But Not So Seriously, Folks,” Industry Week 241, no. 14 (July 1992): 20. 10. W. Bradford Swift and Ann T. Swift, “Humor Experts Jazz Up the Workplace.” HR Maga­ zine 39, no. 3 (Mar. 1994): 72–75. 11. Joseph F. McKenna, “Lighten Up . . . or Else,” Managing Office Technology 40, no. 7 (July 1995): 9. 12. C. W. Metcalf and Roma Felible, “Humor: An Antidote for Terminal Professionalism,” Industry Week 241, no. 14 (July 1992): 15. 13. Susan B. Whyte, “Stuffy No More: Passion and Humor in the Library,” College & Research Libraries News 3 (Mar. 1996): 138. 14. Roberta L Tipton, “Humor and Work: A Selected Bibliography,” Unabashed Librarian, no. 91 (1994): 9. 15. Michigan State University. Libraries’ Murder Mystery Committee. Murder Mystery Game, 1988. 16. Wilma Davidson, “Add Humor to Workplace Memos,” Personnel Journal 71, no. 6 (June 1992): 67. 17. Henry Alford, “Endpaper, ‘Humor Me,’” New York Times Magazine, July 3, 1994, 46. 18. M. Kathleen Unland and Brian Kleiner, “How to Enhance Your Sense of Humor,” Agency Sales 25, no. 8 (Aug.1995): 56. 19. Steven M. Sultanoff, “Using of Humor in Crisis Situations,” http:// www.humormatters.com/crisis.htm. 20. David J. Abramis, “Humor in Healthy Organizations,” HR Magazine, 37, no. 8 (Aug. 1992): 74. www.humormatters.com/crisis.htm