"Innovative Staffing Models at Academic Libraries," Special Issue, Against the Grain, (V32 #4) Sept. 2020

Keywords

Academic Libraries - Staffing Models

Abstract

v32 #4 Innovative Staffing Models at Academic LibrariesBY AGAINST THE GRAIN | SEP 30, 2020 | 0 COMMENTSby Barbara Tierney (Head, Research & Information Services Dept., University of Central Florida Libraries) In response to challenges such as decreased funding, flat budgets, hiring freezes, and even pandemics, academic libraries across the country are experimenting with innovative staffing models that support new services and contribute to student and faculty success. ALA’s State of America’s Libraries 2018 states, in its “staffing trends” section, that in the past five years “almost 61% of academic libraries repurposed or cross-trained staff to better support new technologies or services or provide support for new positions or library departments. http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2018/academic-libraries This issue of Against the Grain provides examples of innovative staffing models from libraries at Ohio State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Northern Arizona, Virginia Wesleyan University, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.Craig Gibson (Professional Development Coordinator, The Ohio State University Libraries) in his article “The Engaged Librarian Framework at The Ohio State University Libraries” discusses how the academic library community has engaged in discussions about the future of the liaison librarian role over the past fifteen years; how OSU Libraries undertook the challenge of expanding the conception of the liaison librarian role through the development of an Engaged Librarian Framework in 2011; and how new ideas about liaison roles are causing the Framework to evolve.Shaun Bennett (Research Librarian for Business, Education, & Data Literacy, NCSU Libraries), Karen Ciccone (Head, Data & Visualization Services, NCSU Libraries) and Hilary Davis (Head, Collections & Research Strategy, NCSU Libraries) in their article “Engaged Librarianship at the NC State University Libraries” describe strategies for increasing staff engagement by hiring for skills gaps, aligning to support collaborative work across library units, blending functional and traditional liaison roles, forming committees and departments to address emerging research and teaching needs, and forging campus partnerships.Barbara Tierney (Head, Research & Information Services Dept., University of Central Florida Libraries) in her article “Full Speed Ahead: From Basic Subject Librarian Model to Engaged Librarian Model at University of Central Florida Libraries” traces the evolution of UCF’s beginning 2013 Subject Librarian model to its present fledgling Engaged Librarian model. Future goals include Subject Librarians building upon their high-quality interactions with academic programs and departments to support interdisciplinary teaching and learning, research-intensive course development, OERs and textbook alternatives, faculty clusters, and grant proposals.Andrew See (Head, User Services and Experience, Cline Library, Northern Arizona University) in his article “Weathering the Storm: Continuing Essential Services at an Academic Library During a Global Pandemic” describes how his library was one of the few to remain open, through utilizing modified services, hybridized staffing models, and scaled access, to support student success while addressing public health concerns.Sue Erickson (Director, Hofheimer Library, Virginia Wesleyan University) and Amber Gruszeczka (Research Librarian, Virginia Wesleyan University) have contributed an article titled “Innovative Cross-training and Cross-functional Staffing at a Small Liberal Arts University Library” which shows how strategies such as cross-training, cross-functional assignments, and a backup system for job responsibilities, help make the most of their small staff of five full-time librarians. Also, they explain how the innovative training system that they have created for their twenty student assistants contributes to both the success of their library and, also, to the student assistants’ acquisition of transferable skills which they can use to build their resumes.Jill Markgraf (Director, McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) has contributed an article titled “Libraries and the Importance of Being Ambidextrous” that illustrates how McIntyre Library explored new initiatives, such as creating a library makerspace, while simultaneously increasing efficiencies, consolidating services, and reducing hours in response to a severe state budget cut to the state university system. Cross-pollinating, cross-training, and cross-functioning are the strategies they used to become an ambidextrous organization.Please see the November issue of Against the Grain for two additional articles on innovative staffing models: “Librarian Engagement at the University of Minnesota,” by Jennie M. Burroughs (Interim Co-Associate University Librarian for Research & Learning, University of Minnesota) and “We All Serve: Library-wide Distributed Desk Service,” by Bo Baker (Public & Research Services Dept. Head, UTC Library, University of Tennessee Chattanooga) and Theresa Liedtka (Dean, UTC Library, University of Tennessee Chattanooga).

Date Created

September 2020

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