A Slice of Passion: An Evening with California Pizza Kitchen Co-Founder Rick Rosenfield

September 20, 2026Leave a comment

If you live in the Palm Beach area, I invite you to attend what may be the most delicious author talk of the year. Learn how pizza and passion came together to form one of America’s most successful restaurant chains.

Join me for an engaging interview with Rick Rosenfield, a former Federal prosecutor and co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen. During the evening, Rick will share about his experience as an attorney, the impetus to jump into the restaurant business with no prior experience, and the ups and downs of expanding CPK across the country. Along the way you will learn the importance of partnership, practical decision making, and following your dreams.

The event will take place at the Gardens Branch library on Mon. Oct. 5, 6:30 pm. Preregistration is encouraged through this link.

Rick Rosenfield recently wrote the story of California Pizza Kitchen in his new book, The California Pizza Kitchen Story: How Two Federal Prosecutors Changed the Way America Eats Pizza. According to the book’s website:

The California Pizza Kitchen Story: How Two Federal Prosecutors Changed the Way America Eats Pizza is an honest business memoir that tells the unlikely journey from federal courtrooms to the creation of one of the most predominant brands in modern casual dining.

What followed was the moment California-style pizza became mainstream—with its unexpected ingredients, open kitchens, and a relaxed yet elevated dining experience—and the rapid growth of CPK from a single location into a global brand. Along the way, Rosenfield and Flax navigated explosive expansion, skeptical bankers, partnerships with major corporations, and the pressures and consequences of private equity ownership.

Audience Q&A will follow the interview and copies of the book will be available for purchase and signature. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Palm Beach County Library System and will be joined by the CPK franchise in the Gardens Mall.

Please sign up on the Palm Beach County Library website through this link. I look forward to seeing you there.

Protect Yourself from AI

September 13, 2026Leave a comment

How much of your information is exposed to AI?

AI has been rapidly moving through our world. Versions of it are integrated into most software and apps. This makes it feel like AI is inescapable. Because of this, many people are wary of exposing their information to AI. Are their ways to keep our data safe without leaving the internet entirely?

A recent article on the Fast Company website is a must read if you are looking to limit exposure to AI. Kevin Lewis, who serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for E78 Partners, wrote an article titled, 4 things you can do to protect yourself from the rising threat of AI. He opens by describing the scope of the problem.

The concern is understandable—and underscored by recent warnings from high-profile AI researchers about the threat of superintelligence. AI is in our home appliances, work products and even attends our meetings. It shapes the apps we use, the content we see, and the messages we receive. Voice assistants listen to our commands, shopping sites predict what we’ll buy next, and AI tools quietly learn from the data we create. Meanwhile, the traditional cybersecurity risks of stolen passwords, compromised accounts, and phishing emails haven’t gone anywhere. They’ve only gotten more sophisticated and harder to spot.

To mitigate risk, Lewis provides four ideas on how to avoid exposure to AI. The first is to start limiting your digital footprint.

Remove the apps you never use from your phone, then review app permissions on the ones you do use, opting out of unnecessary data collection where possible.

Always avoid sharing personal details with AI chatbots. Be especially cautious with free AI sites that use your prompts, conversations, or uploaded files to train their systems. Anything you share could be stored, analyzed, or reused in ways you did not intend. Privacy-focused options such as proton.com and duck.ai may be better choices because they are designed to reduce data collection.

To learn the other three approaches, I encourage you to read the rest of the article. Then do your best to apply them across your digital world. Good luck!

Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month

September 7, 2026Leave a comment

Do you have a library card? If not, now is the perfect time to get one.

September is the annual celebration of a simple card that opens up a world of unlimited possibilities. Your library card allows access to a wide range of print and electronic resources for free. National Library Card Sign-Up Month is an invitation to everyone to visit their local library to explore and discover a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips.

The national musically inspired theme this year from the American Library Association is “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes.” As described on the ALA website:

No matter what your tastes are, a library card hits all the right notes!

Check out a classic story or hit shuffle and try something new. Find harmony at your library’s book clubs, movie nights, crafting classes, and author talks. A headphone kind of day? Find your focus in a study room or vibe out in a cozy nook. Compose your future with new skills in your library’s makerspace or check out instruments and tools in the Library of Things. No matter what rhythm you find yourself in, there’s a seat in the front row at the library for you.

This September, B sharp, and sign up for a library card!

To celebrate, some library systems are providing incentives to sign up for a free card. For example, the Palm Beach County Library System is offering this deal.

This September, the Palm Beach County Library System is celebrating Library Card Sign-Up Month with a special incentive encouraging members to share the Library with friends and family.

For members who bring a friend or family member to any Library location to sign up for a new Library card, or renew an expired card, both will be entered into a drawing for a special prize. Both participants will also receive a limited-edition Pop-It keychain featuring the phrase “I Heart Palm Beach County Library System,” while supplies last.

To participate, visit any Palm Beach County Library System location in person: www.pbclibrary.org/locations

In a time when reading for pleasure has declined, a library card is a great way to expand your mind beyond endless phone scrolling. In fact, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners declared 2026 as the year to Rediscover Reading. Even if you don’t live in Palm Beach County, you can participate in the themed months to expand your reading beyond the usual.

What are you waiting for? Drop in today to get your card! You deserve it!

Rest – A Radical Act

August 30, 2026Leave a comment

When was the last time your just laid back and rested? Not sat on the coach phone scrolling or binge watching a tv show. When was the last time you simply rested?

For most of us, that hasn’t happened recently. According to professional speaker and author Shola Richards, that is a big problem.

In a recent article on his Substack called, The Radical Act of Rest, he outlines why deliberate rest is fundamental to our well-being. He starts by disputing the idea that rest must be earned only after all other chores and tasks are accomplished.

“I mean, you don’t earn the right to drink water, do you? You don’t earn the right to use the restroom either. Rest is literally in the same category. We need to stop thinking of rest as reward for being productive. More accurately, rest is a fundamental biological need that makes productivity possible.“

After shattering the earned rest myth, Shola goes on to define the different types of rest that we need.

Physical rest: This is the most obvious one (night time sleep, power naps, and allowing your body to take a break).
Mental rest: Time where your brain is not solving problems, processing information, consuming content, or generating output.
Emotional rest: Time away from managing anyone’s feelings, problems or drama (and yes, this one is especially tough for parents of young kids).

In order to put this idea into practice, Shola outlines ways to bring more rest into your life. Even as he does so, he still acknowledges that we are fighting old ways of thought by doing so.

Choosing to intentionally rest can be really hard (at least, it was initially for me), because it requires us to override years of programming that taught us that our worth is conditional on our productivity.

To learn more about the benefits of rest and how to incorporate them into your daily routine, please read the rest of his article.

Now if you’ll forgive me, I’ll be taking a nap.

Busyness Isn’t A Badge Of Honor

August 23, 2026Leave a comment

Are you busy? I mean, really busy? So busy you barely have time to read this post?

It is easy to fill our days with endless tasks, whether they are assigned to us by others or self-chosen. It is in the nature of knowledge work that there is always something more that can be done or a project that can be constantly refined. However, does that approach to work, the attempt to do as much as possible, effectively work?

In a recent post on the Choice360 website called Busyness Isn’t A Badge of Honor, blogger Alejandro Marquez argued that falling into the busy trap is not a worthy goal. Coming at the problem from the perspective of librarianship, he shares the following insight.

Within the library profession, this susceptibility to busyness is arguably even more pronounced. Library work is often demanding and time-sensitive, requiring constant engagement. Workers are expected to be a resource, a guide, a confidante, and a problem-solver. The pressure to be available, responsive, and supportive can feel immense, particularly when students themselves are struggling with similar pressures.

Added on to this problem, is the burden of “Compassion Fatigue.” Marquez identifies this mindset in the following way:

Compassion fatigue is the emotional and physical exhaustion experienced by those constantly providing care and support. It’s the cumulative toll of advocacy work, direct student support, and the relentless urgency that permeates our daily routines. Workers are constantly asked to be empathetic, understanding, and proactive, often without adequate support or recognition. This labor of constant care, coupled with the pressure to be “always on,” can lead to a profound sense of depletion, leaving professionals feeling drained, overwhelmed, and disconnected.

How can librarians, or any profession for that matter, overcome the busy trap? The first step is about reclaiming boundaries.

This is crucial. Establish clear boundaries around work hours, communication channels, and availability. Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty.

Additionally, workers should prioritize self-care outside of work.

Workers can engage in activities that replenish energy and support well-being through exercise, mindfulness, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones.

Read the rest of the article to learn more idea to reclaim a sense of self-worth and avoid the busy trap. Go ahead, make the time for it. The lessons will be worthwhile.

Have You Done a Time Audit?

August 16, 2026Leave a comment

Where did the time go?

Do you regularly feel like the day got away from you. That long to do list has very little marked off. Even more importantly, have you felt that all your time was spent on unimportant items, leaving the task you truly cared about undone? Perhaps there just isn’t enough time in the day to get things done. Or is there?

In a recent NPR article, psychotherapist Niro Feliciano revealed that people are largely unaware of how they spend their days. We blindly do things of low value while neglecting the more important items. It began for her with a personal epiphany about her own choices. As the article writers share:

“I remember sitting in my office. I had done eight sessions, several with adolescents. And I said, ‘When was the last time I spent 45 minutes listening to one of my kids?'” she says.

She realized that how she wanted to spend her time and how she was really spending it “were very much misaligned,” she says. “I did not see enough of a reflection of things that brought me joy and contentment.”

Photo by Alexander Popadin on Pexels.com

To help herself and her clients make better choices, Feliciano encourages conducting a time audit. The process is simple, but it requires attention to details.

Make a list of the people and the activities that are the most important to you. It might be loved ones like your partner, your kids or your bestie, and hobbies like reading, working out or video-chatting with your long-distance friends.

Then do a time inventory. Where is your time really going each day? Are the lists matching up? You might find that a lot of your day is spent on obligations, chores and time-sucking activities.

Then look for ways to make your lists reflect each other. Where can you carve out more space for your family? Or set aside a moment for reading?

Once this is done, the next task is to find ways to add in the high value items to your day. Feliciano took her own advice, as she shared with the writers.

To make more time, you’ll need to set some boundaries, Feliciano says. “What are you doing that makes you feel resentful, depleted, exhausted?” And what can you do to limit yourself from those activities?

Feliciano found that she was spending a lot of unnecessary time scrolling on social media — but that wasn’t on her list of priorities, so she cut back.

To learn more about time audits and how to use them to get more value out of your day, please read the rest of the NPR article.

Librarianship Beyond the Textbook

August 9, 2026Leave a comment

I am excited to share wonderful news.

I have written a chapter for a new book on librarianship that came out this week. The book is titled, Librarianship Beyond the Textbook: A Practical Guide for Real-World Challenges, available for purchase through Bloomsbury Publishing. The book blurb describes it as follows:

Library and Information Undergraduate and Graduate Programs do an incredible job examining important methodology of librarianship today. However, any library school graduate will at multiple points in their career declare, “Well they didn’t teach me this in library school!” Whether it was taught or not, libraries are a multifaceted, constantly changing landscape. Public, academic, school, and special libraries of all sizes each have their own unique needs, but there are certain skills, techniques, and mindsets that benefit all library staff.

Librarianship Beyond the Textbook is different from others on the market in that it addresses topics that aren’t automatically or often associated with librarianship – topics that are otherwise overlooked, but are nonetheless inevitable, capturing those “Finally, some help with this!” moments – moments of both recognition and assistance. The goal of the book is to not only allow the reader to feel heard, but to address evergreen and overlooked topics.

Edited by Nay Keppler from Baltimore County Library, I am one of fifteen contributors. The topics are broad and applicable to any level of library worker. My chapter is called, Running Effective Meetings, where I provide best practices to ensure meetings are run smoothly and efficiently. Below is the full table of contents.

Introduction
Chapter 1: Historical Context and Legacy of Libraries and Racial Equity Shauntee Burns-Simpson and Nichelle M. Hayes
Chapter 2: The Simple and Courageous Pursuit of Growth Brianna Campbell
Chapter 3: Library Safety and Security Melissa Munn
Chapter 4: Beyond the Bookshelves: The Facilities Management Impact Kim Fuller
Chapter 5: Project Management Basics Wendy Tressler
Chapter 6: Running Effective Meetings Douglas Crane
Chapter 7: Burnout and Psychological Safety: Intertwined Challenges in Library Management Bobbi Newman
Chapter 8: Advocacy Skills to Enhance Library Support Tif Sutherland
Chapter 9: Interpersonal Skills and Office Politics: Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Colleagues Loida Garcia-Febo
Chapter 10: Beyond the Balance Sheet: Budgeting and Development Insights for Emerging Library Leaders Lauren Sands and Derek Lloyd
Chapter 11: From Navigators to Futurists: Librarians as Technology Leaders Angela Kent
Chapter 12: Managing Community Partnerships Audrey Barbakoff
Chapter 13: Supporting Marginalized Groups in Libraries: Questions, Reflections, and Future Directions Micaela Deogracias

If you are intrigued, purchase a copy today at the Bloomsbury website. You can also find it at your favorite online bookstore.

“Hot Sauce” Applause

July 26, 2026Leave a comment

I’ve noticed a new pandemic sweeping the nation. Don’t worry, it is not necessary to break out those old facemasks from storage, nor hunt for a vaccine. This particular problem is one of energy, not biology. It is the trend towards “weak sauce” applause.

Watch carefully next time you attend an event or gala. When it is time to applaud a speaker, the results are often underwhelming. A “weak sauce” applause that has no flavor. Clapping that dies before the speaker has even taken the stage. It is one that reveals people are more interested in scrolling their phones or catching a quick snooze than acknowledging the person at the front of the room. “Weak sauce” applause lacks enthusiasm, turning any potential gourmet event into a bland fast-food combo.

At a recent Toastmasters Learning Institute, I gave a short keynote to raise awareness about the pandemic of “weak sauce” applause. To combat this worrying trend, I advocated for the audience to follow the lead of chef Emeril Lagasse and “kick it up a notch”. Let’s turn “weak sauce” into a “hot sauce” applause!

Why is this important? It has to do with the power of applause. We clap our hands for many reasons. Two big ones are to show respect for the speaker and to recognize the hard work it takes to stand at center stage. “Hot sauce” applause bring energy to a proceeding. It fires up both the crowd and the speaker. It adds spice to what could otherwise be a dreary dish.

Even more enticing, “hot sauce” applause makes any event more enjoyable. When fun enters the equation, learning becomes easier. Learning requires energy and “hot sauce” applause brings that in heaping dollops.

Therefore, I challenge you to put this into practice. The next time you are at an event, bring on the “hot sauce” applause. Clap loudly. Clap long. Give the speaker your full attention. Then watch the proceedings grow more exciting and more inviting as the fun kicks up several notches.

A dash of “hot sauce” applause brings excitement to any event.

Reframing: A Solution to Most Problems?

July 19, 2026Leave a comment

Do you know someone who is always in crisis?

Many people live their lives worrying about the load of problems that besiege them. They bemoan their fate and wonder why fate dealt them so many difficulties. Even the most optimistic people can fall victim to this mode of thinking. If you enter this trap is there a way out?

According to Darius Foroux, there is a simple, yet powerful way to escape pessimistic thinking. In an article on his website titled The Reframing Theory: The Solution to 95% of Your Problems, Foroux shares how changing the appearance of perceived problems in your mind can lead to better outcomes. This steams from an understanding of how labels are applied.

You have a label for everything in your life.

You are disciplined or undisciplined.
Successful or unsuccessful.
Healthy or unhealthy.
Happy or not.

These are the mental labels we use in our minds. They sound like facts, but they’re not.

They’re interpretations. And interpretations can be changed.

So how can interpretations be changed? The answer is to reframe the issue. Instead of accepting the first impression of a situation, see if it can be viewed from a different perspective. Foroux suggests the following exercise:

Positive thinking asks you to pretend bad things are good.

Reframing asks something different. It asks you to find the most accurate and useful interpretation of a situation.

Not the most flattering one. The most functional one.

There’s a difference between lying to yourself and choosing a better lens.

As an example, Foroux envisions someone who feels undisciplined and is beating themselves up over it.

Old frame: I lack willpower. Something is wrong with me.

New frame: My goals aren’t aligned with who I actually am, what I actually want, or what my life actually allows right now.

The old frame offers no solutions other than to try harder.

The new frame provides a way to analysis one’s actions and recommit to the goals set. It might even show that the reason no action has been taken is that the goals have no value. Therefore, resetting the goals with ones that inspire and excite the mind will lead to effortless action.

To learn more about how to apply reframing to your life, please read the rest of the article.

Efficient Librarian

Exploring the Intersection of Efficiency and Librarianship