Dr. Christina Barsky, Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program in UVM’s Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE), has co-authored a new peer-reviewed article in The American Review of Public Administration.
Titled “Checked Out: The Impact of U.S. Public Library Politicization on Employee Turnover Intention, Emotional Exhaustion, and Reduced Compassion,” the article—written with colleagues M. Blake Emidy from Texas A&M, Josephine K. Hazelton-Boyle from California State University, Fresno, and Lauren K. McKeague from the University of Montana —examines how the growing politicization of public libraries affects the people who work within them. The research highlights how external political pressures can lead to employee burnout, reduced compassion, and increased turnover intention among library staff, offering critical insights into workforce challenges faced by many public institutions.
“What we’re seeing in libraries echoes broader trends across public service – moral stress rises when public servants are asked to negotiate between professional ethics and political pressure,” Barsky said. “If we want to sustain trusted institutions like libraries, we must educate and support a new generation of public servants who see their work as democracy in action. Public administration education has never been more vital – every classroom, every internship, and every discussion is an opportunity to rebuild trust in our civic systems
As director of UVM’s MPA program, Dr. Barsky brings this kind of real-world, evidence-based research into the classroom, preparing students to lead in public and nonprofit organizations with empathy and integrity. The program emphasizes ethical leadership, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making—core principles reflected in Dr. Barsky’s work.
The full article is available through The American Review of Public Administration.