You Can’t Always Get What You Want, But If You Try Sometimes, You Get What You Need

<p dir="ltr">This chapter chronicles the adaptive leadership and student-centered innovation at Georgia Gwinnett College’s Kaufman Library during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bennett and Downey detail how the Access Services team responded to the sudden shift to remote work by advocating for the continued employment of student assistants—many of whom relied on their campus jobs for financial and emotional stability. Through a compelling narrative, the authors explore the development of a remote work proposal, the creation of training modules in Desire2Learn (D2L), and the implementation of high-impact practices such as guided reflections and cross-training in reference services. The chapter highlights the importance of mentorship, flexibility, and institutional support in maintaining student engagement and retention during a crisis. Ultimately, it illustrates how thoughtful adaptation can yield lasting improvements in library operations and student development.</p>