Boomers to Millennials: Generational Stereotypes at Work in Academic Librarianship

Over the past 30?years, as the American workforce has become more generationally diverse, library administrators and academic librarians alike have focused on navigating dynamics that arise in a multigenerational workplace. Much scholarly research has been conducted on generational differences; however, most of this research assumes that the individuals studied adhere to or believe in generational stereotypes. This exploratory study used a hybrid experience-perception survey to examine the role or influence generational stereotypes have on academic librarians and how those stereotypes influence the academic library workforce. While few specific generational stereotypes were found to be held by participants, perceptions of generational stereotypes still have a significant influence in academic librarians' interactions with their colleagues. This finding means that regardless of their validity, the impact of generational stereotypes cannot be disregarded in academic library workplaces.     

We are All Winners: Training Silents to Millennials to Work as a Team

No abstract available for this article.     

Millennials among the Professional Workforce in Academic Libraries: Their Perspective on Leadership

This study explores possible leadership perceptions of Millennials working in academic libraries, specifically their definition, the attributes they associate with leadership, whether they want to assume formal leadership roles, whether they perceive themselves as leaders, and whether they perceive leadership opportunities within their organizations and LIS professional associations. An online survey was utilized to gather the responses and the study participants comprised of Millennials (born 1982 or after) currently working full-time in libraries that were a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago in 2011–12.     

Interpersonal Skills in the Reference Workplace

SUMMARY

Reference librarians are expected to interact effectively with a variety of clientele and are taught skills such as approachability, showing interest, and verbal and non-verbal cues. Librarians who have a knack for interpersonal skills do very well both at the reference desk and interacting with their co-workers. An area that is rarely addressed in the literature (or in library school) is that of educating librarians about how to establish professional, collegial relationships with one another. It is assumed that if a reference librarian can interact well with patrons, in a professional manner, he or she will be able to successfully “fit into” almost any reference department. This article discusses the importance of interpersonal skills within the Reference Department and ideas for improving these skills to enhance co-worker relations.     

Predicting the Future: Library Technologies to Keep in Mind

It can be difficult to keep up with library technology, let alone with technology in general. This essay describes several technology trends (virtual reality, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, and adoption of a “buy the data, build the interface” approach to service provision) that librarians should be aware of as they are likely to prove foundational to the services libraries will offer, as well as the services library users will expect.     

Incivility and Dysfunction in the Library Workplace: Perceptions and Feedback from the Field

Issues associated with lack of civility, less than ideal functionality, and employees that may not self-reflect as much they should are all challenges in the modern workplace and libraries are no exception. The purpose of this study was to determine which issues associated with a lack of civility such as mobbing, bullying, workplace dysfunction, and lack of abilities regarding self-reflection were found in the library workplace and to what extent. The data represents the feedback of 4,168 library employees through a self-reporting survey instrument designed by the authors with the help of the American Library Association. Data is both quantitative and qualitative and seeks to examine the issues addressed across all types of libraries. While useful for all library employees, this study and report are especially relevant to the modern library administrator.     

A Product of Social Interaction: Tag-Team Reference and Workplace Relationships

SUMMARY

Interacting socially with colleagues creates close workplace relationships. These relationships translate into a dynamic, synergistic environment at the reference desk, also known as tag-team reference. When two people work well together, they can bounce ideas off of one another and serve the users most efficiently. Reference librarians all have strengths and weaknesses and those who work closely together can rely on each other without worrying about the stigma of reference desk boundaries. While traditional training and advice literature do not stress the importance of workplace relationships, there are ways that librarians and libraries can successfully promote social interaction and nurture a collaborative, collegial environment.     

Reconnecting the Disconnects: Library Outreach to Faculty as Addressed in the Literature

While academic librarians have always sought to create the best services for college faculty and students, the increasingly self-defined “teacher-librarian” needs more than ever to promote positive relationships and collaboration with classroom faculty. Based on a review of library literature, this article explores the nature of several disconnects between librarians and college or university faculty and examines the ways in which library outreach to faculty in its various forms seeks to bridge those gaps. The author maintains that library outreach addresses the issues between librarians and may result in higher levels of advocacy, collaboration, and collegiality.     

Marketing the Library using Social Media Platforms: The Experience of the University Library Bochum,Germany

Social media is becoming more and more important as a marketing outlet for libraries. Understanding its significance, complexity, yet also its changing nature, is essential in order to productively implement social media into your library’s marketing strategy. This article will not only highlight the many benefits of this, but will also give you insight on how to get started.     

Library Finances 101: Developing Workplace Financial Literacy in Your Staff and Institution

Workplace financial literacy educates the entire library staff on the financial and business aspects of the library. It is more than a budget workshop or vocabulary list. It is a vital part of the successful management of a modern library. Sharing financial information and developing an open culture encourages and enables staff to use financial and managerial information to improve the operations and functions of the library. The result is informed and engaged staff members who are fully vested in and take responsibility for the success of the library.     

Taking the Library to the Users: Satellite Reference at the University of Mississippi

ABSTRACT

It is no secret that the nature of reference is changing. Users no longer have to go to the library to find the resources needed for their research. The library is becoming a place to study more than a place to do research. Business students at the University of Mississippi are no different. With nice computer labs, a big building, and atriums for relaxing, there was little need for them to leave the School of Business Administration. How do you reach users who won't come to the library? You take the library to them. In 2004, the business librarian at J.D. Williams Library at the University of Mississippi began offering satellite or on-site reference to the School of Business Administration. Three years later the program is still running and considered a success—not only as a way to provide reference to a user group but also as a form of marketing and outreach for the library.     

The Library Liaison Toolkit: Learning to Bridge the Communication Gap

SUMMARY

SUNY New Paltz established a library liaison program in 2001, long after such programs were commonplace at many U.S. college and university libraries. The program emerged, not simply from a desire to enhance library service, but because library faculty came to view it as a multi-faceted mechanism capable of addressing multiple concerns. The new library-wide initiative demanded high-level communication skills, an in-depth understanding of library policies and collection development practices, and increased knowledge about individual departments and the college. A collection of campus information resources and liaison training sessions, collectively called The Library Liaison Toolkit, was developed to build liaison expertise in these areas.     

Perceptions of communication in a family relationship and the reduction of intergroup prejudice

From a contact theory perspective, links between variation in young adults' perceptions of communication with their grandparents and attitudes towards older adults are examined. The analysis pays particular attention to variation in communication with multiple grandparents, and finds links between that and perceived variability in the older adult population as a whole. More variation in perceptions of communication with grandparents is associated with perceptions of older adults as more heterogeneous. However, variation in grandparent relationships is associated with more negative attitudes towards older adults on measures of attitudinal central tendency. The results are discussed in terms of intergroup communication processes, contact theory and possible interventions to reduce prejudice in this and other contexts.     

Perceptions of communication in a family relationship and the reduction of intergroup prejudice

From a contact theory perspective, links between variation in young adults' perceptions of communication with their grandparents and attitudes towards older adults are examined. The analysis pays particular attention to variation in communication with multiple grandparents, and finds links between that and perceived variability in the older adult population as a whole. More variation in perceptions of communication with grandparents is associated with perceptions of older adults as more heterogeneous. However, variation in grandparent relationships is associated with more negative attitudes towards older adults on measures of attitudinal central tendency. The results are discussed in terms of intergroup communication processes, contact theory and possible interventions to reduce prejudice in this and other contexts.     

Politics and Advocacy: The Role of Networking in Selling the Library to Your Community

SUMMARY

Current research conducted by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute, Florida State University, identifies the characteristics of the successfully networked public library (SNPL) and in particular explores the impact of technology on both library advocacy and networking in the political system. This paper identifies the factors that are critical to a public library's success in advocacy, community support, government relations, and ultimately the perceived importance of the library in the community. This perspective on the SNPL is reinforced by the examination of Cuyahoga County Public Library's program to use the strategies of the SNPL.     

Bridging the Gap Between Library Services in Academic Libraries: A Visiting Librarian Model

ABSTRACT

This article discusses an experience of the University of Central Florida (UCF) Library when hosting a visiting librarian from Tongji University Library in Shanghai, China, in 2015. Unlike most other visiting programs in the U.S., UCF's hosting experience offers a year-long, broad-based training in several functional areas facilitated by library administration and two bilingual librarians. The initial goals were to promote dialogue and understanding between the academic systems of the two countries, and ultimately to enhance the international users' library experience in their quest to study at foreign institutions. Through describing this visiting program and discussing its findings and assessments, the authors concluded longer term visiting programs like this can benefit both the visiting and hosting libraries and bridge the gap of academic libraries across the world.     

美国图书馆协会“达纳图书馆公共关系奖”分析与启示

[目的/意义] 对美国图书馆协会设立的"达纳图书馆公共关系奖"进行介绍与分析,旨在为我国图书馆营销与公共关系活动的开展提供借鉴。[方法/过程] 通过网络调查法、文献分析法和邮件调查法,从奖项名称、奖项申请、获奖内容、奖励办法等方面分析该奖项,并重点研究评审标准。[结果/结论] 该奖项的评审标准由需求评估与规划、实施与创新、评估3部分构成,总结得出评审标准是由战略规划、环境分析、目标用户、项目预算、品牌构建、沟通策略和评估构成的公共关系项目体系。对我国图书馆公共关系活动的启示包括：制定战略规划、建设专业化团队、目标用户细分、树立品牌意识、注重构建社会关系。     

论现代图书馆危机公关的特点与策略

现代图书馆作为公共服务的平台,面临着许多危机和突发事件的侵袭和困扰,本文从理论上梳理了危机公关内涵,归纳出图书馆危机公关的特点,分析应对图书馆危机公关的策略,并指出图书馆危机公关应对中的大忌.     

图书馆网络公共关系特点、应用及发展策略

文章概述了图书馆网络公共关系的特点和应用，提出了图书馆网络公共关系的发展策略。