Library Leadership & Management (LL&M) (E-Journal)
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Ethno-Religious Diversity in Nigeria Academic libraries: Role of swarm intelligence on teams
No full textThis article explores how Swarm intelligence (SI) addresses academic library team limitations, amplifies library teams' intelligence and facilitates better library service decisions. It demonstrates how libraries can use SI to harness the diverse perspectives that individual personnel bring to groups and facilitate convergence upon decisions. A thorough analysis of literature was conducted. Discoveries from literature were then used to construct a Swarm intelligence model applicable to the library. Findings indicate that librarians must continue to strategize through Swarm intelligence to position themselves for better decision-making, increased innovation and increased productivity. Swarm intelligence is a vital parameter for managing teams in a diverse library. Due to the striking collective feats that many animals can produce, the study of animal swarm intelligence is a crucial area for inspiration that offers the library a unique potential for transformation. The paper is valuable as it explores the application of swarm intelligence on teams in diverse library setting
Using Search Advocates to Mitigate Bias in Hiring: An Interview with Anne Gillies
No full textA commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requires eliminating bias in hiring. Eliminating bias requires training, tools and cultural change. This interview with Anne Gillies of Oregon State University’s Search Advocates provides a nuanced understanding of how search practices reinforce bias and how she has operationalized a program that has the capacity to create deep cultural change. Interviewed by Emily Weak of Hiring Librarians, she outlines her program’s philosophy, as well as its origins and the challenges in measuring outcomes. Her program has found footing in academic libraries, but managers in public and other library types will benefit from understanding her methods
Change Management in Libraries: The Case of the University of Ghana Library System (UGLS)
No full textIn 2018, the University of Ghana Library System (UGLS) experienced an unprecedented rotation of staff within its main library and satellite libraries. The changes were long overdue as the regular rotation of staff by the Human Resource and Organisational Development Directorate (HRODD) somehow, never affected library personnel. Fifty (50) Junior and senior library staff who had been in one position for more than a decade were rotated within the UGLS. This paper reflects on how the change was achieved, the pre- and post- interviews of staff involved, and lessons learned one year later. Findings emphasize the value of communication, the structured process and transparency to make the change easier and implementation smoother. The paper concludes that regular rotation of staff and the management of such change are significant for the development of the UGLS and for the university as a whole. Recommendations for libraries in Ghana and in Africa embarking on similar staff rotation are captured in the paper
A View from the Top: Library Leaders’ Predictions for the Future of Science Liaison Librarianship
No full textLibrary leaders at academic institutions in the United States at the level of University Librarians, Library Directors, and Library Deans were surveyed about their predictions for the future of science liaison librarianship and the importance of science subject specialization. Responses from 71 library leaders at institutions ranging from community colleges through large, research intensive universities provide insight into evolving roles for academic science librarians. Key findings include that library leaders perceive functional roles such as data management and scholarly communication growing in importance, yet they are rarely seen as replacing traditional subject-based ones. Subject specialization is still seen by many as a desirable qualification for science librarians, even though smaller institutional size and budget constraints may necessitate a more generalist approach. While there was no consensus on the necessity of science subject specialization, and whether or not science liaison librarianship would retain this characteristic in the future, there was a widespread acknowledgement of the value of liaison relationships with science faculty and others at their institutions
Beyond Good Intentions: Developing and Operationalizing Values in the Structure of Digital Library Programs
No full textDefining values for an organizational unit has become a standard practice for creating and supporting successful teams across sectors in business, government, and nonprofits. Given the centrality of professional values for librarians and archivists, this practice is particularly salient for work in library and archives organizations. At the same time, implicit values in technology sector organizations have been widely criticized for leading to staff burnout and contributing to increased precarity and harm to employees. This presents a significant challenge for digital library organizations that often straddle aspects of start-up and information technology organizational culture and library and archives culture. This case study presents the development of a set of values for the newly created Digital Content Management (DCM) section at the Library of Congress. The authors provide general context and background on this effort, then describe the approach to collaboratively developing shared values and the resulting work to refine how those values are operationalized in ongoing work activities and processes. This case study also aims to provide useful information to others working in digital library programs to support this same kind of reflective praxis
Will your next library director have an MLIS?
No full textHigher education is facing declining enrollments as well as high tuition rates, and, as a result, the value of educational degrees is under intense scrutiny. This effect is wide reaching and is impacting academic libraries through reduced collection development budgets, employee turnover, and hiring freezes. Library directors need to rely on their leadership skills to develop strategic plans and motivate library colleagues to adjust and grow in this unsettling environment. How have library leaders developed skills to persevere in these challenging times? This study examines graduate degrees and work experience attained by library directors in midsize academic libraries. With a sample size of 127 directors, it was found that 95% held the MLIS degree and 29% had doctorates. Directors have worked their way up through the ranks by holding previous positions as associate directors, assistant directors, coordinators, or heads of a unit thereby enhancing their leadership portfolios. By happenstance, partial data was gathered initially during August 2020 but completed in February 2022, and within those 19 months, the turnover rate of 104 library directors was 19%. As our aging profession loses directors to retirement, what graduate degrees will search committees require for their replacements
A Comprehensive Survey of Research Library Organizational Structure
No full textResearch library structures have grown in size and complexity over the past several decades. There is no single template for how to organize a library in the 21st century, but it is unclear how much variance in structure truly exists between libraries. This study sought to identify the essential features and characteristics of these structures through the collection and analysis of organization charts. Specifically, this study analyzes the roles and position of senior leaders (e.g. Associate University Librarians, Associate Deans, etc.) as well as how scholarly communications activities are positioned within research libraries. Findings indicate wide variance in the structure of senior leadership roles as well as how a relatively recent library function fits with other units
An Introduction to Systems Thinking for Librarians
No full textSystems thinking moves beyond the traditional view of the world as individual parts to be analyzed and understood toward a view of the world as an interactive, interlinked network working toward a common goal. All the parts of a system are inseparable from one another, making an understanding of the entire system essential to success. The academic library is a perfect example of an interlinked, interoperable system. The writings of systems thinker Barry Oshry provide insight into proper system operation and can be helpful to individuals seeking to create healthy library organizations