The Successful Academic Librarian

The role of academic librarian is far from cut-and-dried. There are numerous job classifications and widely varying academic focuses and cultures to contend with. While every academic librarian is expected to meet the research needs of an institution's faculty and students, many are expected to assume other obligations as part of a faculty or tenure system. Given the many variants, library school alone ccannot prepare individuals for every aspect and flavor of academic librarianship, and intrepid librarians who find themselves in new places and positions face unique challenges. The Successful Academic Librarian is an antidote to the stress and burnout that almost every academic librarian experiences at one time or another. In its pages, Gwen Meyer Gregory and nearly 20 of her peers take a practical approach to a range of critical topics. Their advice, war stories, tips, techniques, and inspiration will help you thrive in your academic library career. -- from back cover.

Leading the 21st Century Academic Library: Successful Strategies for Envisioning and Realizing Preferred Futures will explore the new roles and directions academic libraries are taking in the 21st century as a consequence of visionary leadership in exploring diverse futures.

Academic Librarianship, Publishing, and the Tenure Track examines how the publishing process is critical to the tenure track for academic librarians. With creativity and passion essential components in their quest for reappointment and promotion, this text provides a strategy for academic librarian faculty productivity in conferences, journal articles, and book chapters. It presents the author’s systematic approach, built upon the development of passionate creativity and social networking, examining the creative process, academic writing as a creative art, moving on to the tenure track, and notions of "publish or perish." Subsequent chapters focus on academic librarians, including the MLS and PhD, LIS research, including subject specific research, an empirical and general review of quantification and qualification, the process of publishing, the application portfolio for tenure, and international considerations. Approaches scholarly writing as both a solitary and social art form, presenting cases for the development of passionate creativity and social networking Gives a view on which a passion for scholarship is paramount, discussing academic writing as a creative art and how to move on to the tenure track Considers psychological development Draws on the personal and anecdotal experiences of the author

Providing perspectives of early- and mid-career librarians as well as highly seasoned professionals, this book offers leadership advice that will help academic librarians of all experience levels to surmount the issues they face and overcome new challenges. Academic libraries and librarianship have dramatically evolved in recent years—in everything from their collections and facilities to their relationships with faculty and internal and external partners. These changes demand different mindsets and new skills on the part of librarians. This book explains how the quality of leadership is the key component of successfully implementing innovative service and practices—and as a result, of the success of the library itself. To that end, it offers practical guidelines for implementing leadership principles and achieving success in this evolving culture. Coedited by a team of three highly experienced academic librarians, Leading in the New Academic Library gives actionable advice regarding subjects like helping staff gain new competencies, leading from the middle, and succession planning. The content also addresses hot topics such as the academic library's new role, the integration of IT into library organization and infrastructure, making data-driven decisions, renovating a library space to meet changing user needs, and collaborating with internal as well as external partners.

Gain access to the latest and most savvy research techniques for academic librarians with this robust guidebook written by industry leaders involved in setting national standards for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship. Staying on top of professional trends in academic library research can help turn any librarian into an expert researcher. This practitioner's guide arms librarians with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively conduct research to enhance professional practice and perform successful inquiries. It discusses current practices of academic librarians; details the process of successfully planning, implementing, and publishing a study; and provides professional and personal development to improve research competency. Written by professionals at the upper echelon of their field, Enhancing Library and Information Research Skills comprises seven chapters that break down the research process and focus on individual steps in performing effective research. The book teaches academic librarians how to develop a research question based on a practical problem, determine the scope and objectives of a study, and select proper research design and methods. Readers will also understand how to identify resources to support the study, set a timeline for data collection and data analysis, write a dissertation, and identify the proper venue for publication/presentation.

Intended for use by both librarians and students in LIS programs, Academic Librarianship Today is the most current, comprehensive overview of the field available today. Key features include: Each chapter was commissioned specifically for this new book, and the authors are highly regarded academic librarians or library school faculty— or both Cutting-edge topics such as open access, copyright, digital curation and preservation, emerging technologies, new roles for academic librarians, cooperative collection development and resource sharing, and patron-driven acquisitions are explored in depth Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions for discussion and carefully constructed assignments that faculty can assign or adapt for their courses The book begins with Gilman’s introduction, an overview that briefly synthesizes the contents of the contributors’ chapters by highlighting major themes. The main part of the book is organized into three parts: The Academic Library Landscape Today, Academic Librarians and Services Today, and Changing Priorities, New Directions.

This book is needed now as a response to how much has changed in academic librarianship as a profession (from the smallest academic libraries to large research libraries). Topics covered include: state of the profession of librarianship today, status of librarians, how are librarians conducting research, and more.

This updated edition enables readers to understand how academic libraries deliver information, offer services, and provide learning spaces in new ways to better meet the needs of today's students, faculty, and other communities of academic library users.