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AbstractEmpowerment has been studied within many sectors, however, there has been little research on empowerment within libraries. An online, volunteer survey was sent to Canadian academic librarians to measure their levels of structural and psychological empowerment. Participants reported moderate levels of both types of empowerment, with some socio-demographic variables affecting the scores. Individuals identifying as racialized or with having a disability reported lower levels of empowerment. The structural empowerment subscale opportunity and the psychological empowerment subscale self-determination received the highest scores. The results fill a gap in the research and provide a baseline for future research into librarian empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article examines peer review of librarians’ applications for promotion and tenure (P&T), with a focus on whether individual recommendations are attributed (or anonymous) and included a written justification, as well as librarians’ attitudes on these practices and how attitudes might differ depending on the librarian’s status. The article’s data came from a survey of academic librarians in the United States and Canada and of representatives of P&T committees in a regional conference of the United States. The primary findings showed an ambivalence toward attribution but potential support for requiring justification. Achieving a professional consensus may be impossible, but best practices should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the creation of a community of practice among early-career librarians effectively fosters change in academic libraries. The authors distributed a survey to evaluate the needs of untenured faculty librarians at their institution and assess the best approach to address these needs. The results indicated that their library's established model of mentorship between untenured and tenured colleagues left gaps that could be best met through the creation of a peer support group. The authors share the survey results, indicate the implications from these findings, and suggest how librarians at other institutions can implement similar communities of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting a new job as a academic librarian is tough. It can be more so whenever the new liaison librarian doesn't have the resources they need to be successful. In this article, the authors discuss using reflective narratives to not only critique a previous onboarding document within the Research and Instruction Services Department at Louisiana State University but to also offer suggestions on ways to improve a system in which they are new hires. Authors anonymized responses from a newly hired cohort of librarians and working alongside the department head, evaluated best practices, and offered evidence-based recommendations on ways to improve the system for all future hires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Universities Initiative (EUI) was established in 2017. Its aim is to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions across the EU by building networks of universities. At the end of 2023, there were already 50 European University Alliances gathering 430 higher education (HE) institutions. In each of these Alliances, academic libraries are members, too. These libraries are already involved in intra-alliance projects, and these alliances will probably happen more often due to the EU's project-driven approach. This practice paper is, to the authors' knowledge, the first attempt to describe another challenge that European academic libraries currently face i.e., project management practice. The alliance partner universities operate under distinct national laws and institutional practices, making it challenging to easily align them for effective cross-university collaborations. Familiarity with the theoretical principles of EU project management and project management methodology greatly facilitates the preparation of the proposal and the work of the project. It also allows more effective management of the project as a whole or its individual parts. This paper maps the challenges that work in international projects brings and provides suggestions on how EUI libraries can utilize project management techniques, while also aiming at showing the paths to facilitate cooperation. Drawing from an analysis of the literature on project management that might apply in library-led projects to strengthen communities of purpose, the paper is based on the example of the work experience on the project TRAIN4EU, that was co-led by the academic librarians from the University of Warsaw Library, Poland, and run by 4EU + universities. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations based on TRAIN4EU practices, lessons learned, as well as pitfalls to avoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this reflective piece, the author, a Latino librarian with 25 years of experience in academic libraries, explores the challenges and opportunities surrounding diversity and inclusion within the profession. Through personal anecdotes and historical context, the author highlights the persistent underrepresentation of Latinx librarians in academic settings and the growing importance of addressing this disparity, particularly in response to the demographic shifts in the United States. The establishment of the REFORMA Academic Librarians Advancing Service (ALAS) committee emerges as a pivotal initiative aimed at empowering Latinx librarians and better serving Latinx student populations. Drawing inspiration from mentors and predecessors, the author emphasizes the need for proactive measures from library deans and directors to support initiatives like ALAS, promote cultural competency, and foster diversity within their institutions. By fostering inclusivity, representation, cultural competency, and equitable access to knowledge, the profession can evolve to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2019, the Ensor Learning Resource Center at Georgetown College lost one staff position. While this reduction in force was not a major surprise, what happened over the next three budget years was. With each new year, the library lost positions as part of budget cuts at the institution. To manage these cuts, the library and its staff underwent a major realignment of duties and services to continue to meet patron needs. The article below offers some context and advice for those who may find themselves in similar situations. Recent history in library staffing has seen a reduction in the numbers of qualified librarians and paraprofessionals. According to the IPEDS data, academic libraries have seen an approximately 14% drop in the number of staff and librarians in their ranks. Given this reality, it is incumbent on library leaders to adjust to these new realities, rewriting job descriptions, dropping job duties—including those that are vitally important—and working to ensure building operations continue. This retrenchment in library staffing leads to impacts—both negative and positive—that have far-reaching effects beyond the library walls. As library director at Georgetown College, a small liberal arts campus of approximately 1200 students and a faculty of 75, I faced the situation described above four times in four straight budget years as a staff of seven dwindled to a staff of three. While one staff position was added in October 2022, for three months, a 65,000 square foot building that had to deliver services and spaces for over twelve hundred students ran with a skeleton crew. In this article I offer background to this situation, how it was addressed, and some (hopefully) helpful tips to those in a similar situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors conducted a survey containing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory to explore the degree and type of burnout experienced by academic librarians in the spring of 2023. The average burnout score of the respondents (N = 267) was found to be middling (M = 45.68142). When subtypes of burnout were explored, academic librarians showed the most personal burnout, followed closely by work-related burnout. Client-related burnout was low. Analyses were conducted to explore differences due to demographic or workplace characteristics; however, the only significant relationship observed was between the duration of a librarian's career and their degree of client-related burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study describes the value and impact of the ten-year Fudan-Appalachian Library Exchange Program ((FALEP)). Beginning in 2008, seven librarians from Fudan University and five librarians from Appalachian State University had the opportunity to explore library operations and service provision; learn from colleagues; investigate solutions to common problems; engage in scholarship together; and experience another culture. Librarians found that the exchange experience had a huge impact on their professional and personal lives as they learned to live in a different culture and work in another library system. The exchange program equipped participating librarians with global perspectives, intercultural skills, opportunities for cross-cultural scholarship, and new ideas that were then incorporated into their service provision and work with domestic and international students in their home libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficit thinking, or a "blame the victim" mentality for academic failure, continues to plague higher education since it often requires specific training to recognize. International students are particularly vulnerable victims of instructors exhibiting a deficit viewpoint. Instruction librarians can break out of the deficit mindset by acknowledging the actual issues that impact international students, critically examining their own teaching background and identity, demonstrating cultural humility, employing culturally responsive teaching methods, and intentionally designing classroom experiences that will equip international students with the tools they need to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the importance of involving academic librarians in the development of ethical AI policies. The Academic Librarian Framework for Ethical AI Policy Development (ALF Framework) is introduced, recognizing librarians' unique skills and expertise. The paper discusses the benefits of their involvement, including expertise in information ethics and privacy, practical experience with AI tools, and collaborations. It also addresses challenges, such as limited awareness, institutional resistance, resource constraints, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evolving AI technologies, offering practical solutions. By actively involving librarians, institutions can develop comprehensive and ethical AI policies that prioritize social responsibility and respect for human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians have been grappling with the issue of burnout for decades, at least. This study uses the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Job Control Inventory to show how job control impacts burnout. Using the CBI, academic instruction librarians, on average, have high work-related burnout and even higher personal burnout compared to other jobs. However, librarians have low client-related burnout, similar to other "caring" or "helping" professions. The findings point to key factors that impact job control and burnout to help consider ways of mitigating burnout and increasing job control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, there have been multiple peer-reviewed articles that suggest academic libraries do not establish appropriate succession plans, nor do they develop the required leadership capacity in their librarians. This article discusses (a) the development of a survey instrument to measure the frequency with which succession planning activities take place in libraries, and (b) the results of a survey study that explored succession planning practices in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in the United States. This study utilized a cross-sectional design with a stratified random sample (n = 353) of academic librarians and administrators employed by ARL member libraries. After data analysis, validity and reliability analyses revealed the survey instrument demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and produced a strong alpha coefficient of.91. Findings also suggest that several factors impact respondents' knowledge of and/or participation in succession planning activities, including their sexual orientation, primary job duties, layers of management in their library hierarchy, and whether or not managers identify and prepare interims for critical positions in their library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional development is key for academic librarians who must meet institutional and professional expectations in scholarship and research activities. Graduate programs in library and information science offer students limited preparation for scholarly work. Internal professional development programs attempt to fill that void with workshops, writing groups, and other activities. Many case studies in the library and information science literature describe new programs and their plans for sustainability, but few report on long-lived programs and the reasons for their continued success. In this study, we describe a professional development program for academic librarians at a large research university that has been operating continuously for eight years. Multiple components of the program and their related practices and procedures contribute to its longevity and continuing relevance for librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have pursued advancements in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for much of the last twenty years, but little has been done to address inaccessibility in the profession. Disability is regularly left out of EDI discussions and accessibility efforts are usually limited to ADA compliance. This leaves much of the profession with a limited and often stereotypical understanding of what disability "looks" like. In this column, an academic librarian with non-apparent disabilities provides insight into the experience of disabled library workers, the inaccessibility of the profession exacerbated by COVID-19, and offers tips for library administrators to create inclusive and accessible workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the column below, the author discusses the process of developing a pilot project report as a working document to help assess the impact of academic librarians upon student satisfaction through reference desk interactions in an academic library setting. This preliminary study examines the process of developing a pilot project procedure that supports academic involvement in institutional learning. The author presents data and commentary on the procedures of designing the process, pilot testing the solution, and exploring any necessary enhancements for future success in an effort to improve library management and to impact student success. This pilot project was developed after research development stimulated by administrative encouragement to demonstrate and confirm which library practices and resources contribute to institutional priorities and impact student learning. This study includes potential considerations for library leaders and library staff as a result of changing practices and environments. The author's conclusions discuss how academic library services, expertise and resources contribute to desired outcomes of faculty support and student success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student success as a programmatic concept for academic libraries is becoming increasingly prevalent, though what constitutes student success and how librarians' work intersects with that concept is much debated and varies by institution. We surveyed academic librarians nationwide who self-identified as working in the sphere of student success and asked a variety of questions related to their positions, definitions of student success, and library and institutional goals around student success. Survey results showed that although the goals of librarians are often similar or identical, the framework for student success at the organizational and institutional level varies a great deal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library research instruction is most effective in First-Year Writing (FYW) when the instructor and participating librarians collaborate. In this case study from Eastern Washington University, an instructor-librarian collaborative partnership was taken to a deep, sophisticated level. The instructor and librarians utilized a flipped classroom model to introduce students to the academic research process within a writing context. The results of an assessment of student learning from this class (pre-survey versus post-survey) indicated that a collaborative flipped classroom maximized student learning in information literacy skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students enter the workplace with a high level of confidence in their technology skills, but that does not equate with proficiency in information literacy. Twenty-first-century professional requirements vary, but employers look for common traits that include discriminating between false and truthful information, finding information online that draws accurate conclusions, and thinking critically about information to solve a problem. This article presents why it is necessary to revisit how academic librarians teach information literacy skills, knowledge, and information-seeking behaviors that can transfer to the workplace. Findings from STEM and Health sciences faculty highlight what librarians should teach students to help them prepare for their future beyond the boundaries of the academic library and the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees in academic institutions became eager to realign their personal and professional values, which in some cases led to high rates of attrition and faculty and staff disengagement. Library leaders should consider a host of strategies to retain (and attract future) talent, including increased compensation, flexibility in work hours or location, demonstrated compassion, intentional professional growth, and institutional policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many academic libraries have renewed their commitments to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives in public statements. In this qualitative study, the author interviewed academic librarians to understand how these commitments have been actualized in libraries, and what barriers and challenges have been faced by individuals coordinating this work. All libraries had established committees to implement EDI initiatives, but committees with dedicated positions, budgets, and consistent support from administrators were able to attempt more large-scale, systematic work. The study includes recommendations for library administrators for providing effective structures and support for EDI efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on academic librarian morale is burgeoning, yet less attention has been paid to the workplace experiences of staff. This research team, which included library staff and librarians, conducted 34 structured online interviews with academic library staff across the United States. A theoretical model and interview findings are presented, which reveal the ways in which organizational culture, library hierarchies, and management style affect staff morale. Recommendations are offered, suggesting that, while change can present substantial challenges, efforts to address equity in compensation, provide professional growth opportunities, and create more collegial work environments are essential to improving staff morale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of collegiality as a factor in promotion-and-tenure cases for academic librarians. Using data from library promotion-and-tenure documents at R-1 universities in the United States, the researchers asked three questions: How many R-1 university libraries include any mention of collegiality in their tenure guidelines? What language is used to express the concept of collegiality and is it defined in a clear, objective manner? How important is the concept of collegiality to the process of tenure? The results reveal that collegiality or related concepts are mentioned in less than one-third of tenure documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the results of a biennial student library use survey distributed in Spring 2021 at a large urban research university. Responses reveal library visits were significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Patterns of student needs and the impact of library use on academic achievements were explored, including comparisons to previous biennial survey data. There was a negative correlation with students' GPA and physical library use, and a positive correlation with online library use and GPA. User service librarians, library administrators and academic librarians interested in demonstrating the library value on students' academic success would benefit from this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The path to management is difficult for academic librarians without formal supervisory experience, especially in public services. However, little research on how frontline librarians without supervisory experience advance into middle management has been conducted. To determine the extent to which a relationship between certain personal characteristics and librarians' likelihood to advance exists, a survey was administered to public services librarians who had been promoted into middle management within the previous 5 years. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that charismatic presence, long-term thinking, instruction experience, customer service orientation, interpersonal skills, and ability to achieve tenure/promotion in rank contributed to librarians' successful advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic librarians seldom view their organizations through the political frame. Yet, strong political skills are necessary for organizational effectiveness and career success. Using the Political Skills Inventory, survey data were collected in February 2020 from 260 U.S. academic librarians. Respondents scored in the average range on the PSI. Multiple linear regression revealed that length of service as a librarian, supervisory role, and structural frame score significantly influenced respondents' PSI scores with a modest effect size. Honing their political skills will enable academic librarians to influence organizational decisions and forge new roles for librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government information librarians in academic libraries often serve multiple roles, providing public and technical services for government information along with other duties as assigned. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 academic Federal Depository Library Program coordinators to better understand how they view the organizational design of their library. The study finds that coordinators are able to clearly identify their own priorities for government information. However, their ability to integrate these priorities with larger university and library goals depends on the presence of a strategic plan and a clear method by which to adapt priorities to a larger plan. The study also discusses themes of data services, physical collection legacies, and access and discovery of government information materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference, liaison, subject librarianship: all of these terms traditionally describe a combination of research assistance, instruction, and collection management. This study used structured interviews with 15 librarians at 14 geographically dispersed, medium to large academic institutions to investigate the current state of reference and liaison librarianship. Library administrators' views are important to understanding the future of this work since they advocate for resources if they see the necessity. Findings included agreement on the goals of the work and the urgent need to communicate its value in the current higher education landscape; however, the specific means of communication and the types of work that being a partner could include varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature lacks empirical evidence supporting the claim that the value of special collections in the academic library has grown significantly. Through a web-based survey the perceptions of librarians and archivists (N = 243) in academic libraries were investigated. The results give insight into what measures of value are perceived as important. Minor differences were found based on institutional size and managerial status. More significant differences were found for gender identity. Findings will allow directors and staff to have more productive conversations about limited resources and staff time, and advance professional discourse about the assessment of value for special collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Research has shown that high employee turnover is correlated with negative overall performance and increased costs. Problem: While employee turnover has been a significant area of study in organizational psychology and human resources management, there are few recent studies related to employee turnover in academic libraries. Approach: This study examined the reasons librarians identified for leaving one academic institution for another within a five-year period via an online survey. Results: Results indicate that turnover within academic libraries is influenced by several factors related to work environment, compensation and benefits, job duties and personal needs. Conclusion: Understanding why librarians leave their positions is the first step toward improving employee retention in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University tasked their Space Planning Committee with assessing if the Library was meeting user needs through physical spaces. Capitalizing on their existing relationship, the Committee initiated a joint space survey with Campus Information Technology to identify how they could cooperatively meet student needs to provide students with a more holistic experience in the Library. This article discusses the survey results and provides academic librarians a roadmap to establish valuable cross-campus collaborations that contribute to student success by using cooperative needs assessments. The process illuminated the possibilities and strengths with collaborative space design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Spring of 2018, the authors administered the highly validated and reliable Copenhagen Burnout Inventory work-related sub-scale to 1,628 academic librarians employed within the United States. Academic librarians reported a total work-related burnout score of 49.6. Overall, female participants who were 35–44 years of age reported the highest levels of work-related burnout with males and older individuals reporting the lowest levels of work-related burnout. This study also revealed some interesting information about non-binary/third-gender librarians that suggests further research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic library leaders have a vested interest in quality library instruction, but strategies to ensure this happens can vary across environments. In this study, the author analyzed data collected using King's Learning Activities Survey to consider how work demographics impacted instruction librarians' teaching identity development. Through one-way analyses of variance and cross-tabulation analyses, she found several statistically-significant relationships between how academic librarians' institution types and times at their institution differently inform their teaching identity development. These relationships offer opportunities for library leaders to offer intentional, data-driven support for academic librarians in developing teaching identities while offering high-quality instruction for learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand how librarians across the country market e-learning resources to faculty, a survey was distributed to academic librarians in the United States to gauge what marketing strategies were being used, how the marketing responsibilities were being divided, and what strategies were deemed successful. The survey's results suggested that active, tailored marketing strategies which utilize the traditional liaison model tend to be the most successful. This study emphasizes the need for communication among librarians and includes recommendations for increasing the awareness of e-learning resources on your campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steven Bell's "Academic Librarians' C-Word Problem" recommends that to improve customer service academic librarians like public librarians call their users "customers." This column argues that academic library users should not be called customers for a variety of reasons. Primarily, the goals of public and academic libraries differ. Public libraries seek to discover their users' wants and meet them. Academic libraries, in contrast, aim to teach and support their users' educational growth. Calling an academic library patron a customer implies that individual wants can take precedence over educational needs and that students should have influence over classroom instruction and curricular content. Steven Bell and I agree on the importance of customer service, but I believe that it is defined differently in public and academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using personally identifiable information (PII) (patron data) to make informed decisions in academic libraries through learning analytics programs has increasingly become more commonplace. In this column, we discuss how libraries around the world have used PII to make informed decisions about hours (gate count), electronic resources (collection usage and authentication), and research assistance (virtual reference). In addition, we discuss the use of learning analytics in library environments including the benefits and concerns associated with its use. Finally, we discuss how we have used PII at our institution's library and the data metrics we plan utilize at some point in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are a vital space for collaboration, socialization, research, and quiet study. To support these needs, they must offer a variety of environments, noise levels, and furniture to support varying student needs. However, it can be difficult to understand these specific needs and properly balance the types of spaces and seating alternatives to optimally meet them. This article describes a space usage study undertaken to determine patron needs and preferences and the resulting visualization of the data using Tableau Public. The project provided important insights into patron space preferences and use, and the methodology can be replicated at other institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core competencies have long been established in the competitive world of business and industry. These tenants lend themselves to individualization and branding, being exclusionary tools by their very nature. So how do core competencies fit in the world of libraries and information centers, particularly when considering potential employees? The concept of individual capacity is a better fit for information fields, being more inclusive and reflective of diverse knowledge bases and skillsets that working in this field requires. Juxtaposing the two, core competencies and individual capacity, will help us re-focus our efforts on user-centered information work rather than business rhetoric and conformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaders need to surround themselves with colleagues, mentors, and individuals who will support, challenge, and encourage development. Forming a network will aid a library leader in their individual growth as well as provide informal consultants who can see the broader pictures or tease out an issue that might not be evident to the leader. Colleagues who share the same vision or goals will encourage each other and provide support during personal and professional challenges. A library leader should be strategic about selecting and curating a network that will meet a variety of needs as well as being a resource. Doing so, a leader will have a sounding board to consider ideas and strategies while gaining different perspectives. The end result is that a library leader will build professional relationships that will enhance personal and professional success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Your Health® Radio is a weekly one-hour radio show about consumer health produced by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Family Medicine. It provides practical, health-related news and information to listeners in an easy to understand style. Hosted by a family medicine physician faculty member and co-hosted by other health professionals, it airs on a local radio station. Since 2009, Health Sciences librarians have collaborated on the show, bringing their expertise in information discovery and organization, consumer health, and health literacy to this consumer health endeavor. In the process, the librarians and libraries have also benefitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) has seen a dramatic increase in international student enrollment in the last four years. To serve this rising population effectively, librarians at SIUE created a research study to explore the information needs and academic experiences of international students at SIUE. The study employed a mixed-methods approach including a survey as well as in-depth interviews and photo diaries. The results provide insight into international students' library use and academic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although outreach is a stated or implied goal of nearly all library systems, there is no universal definition of what constitutes outreach and how to evaluate its success. A survey of institutional guidelines and scholarly work reveals a range of ideas and some discussion of the concept, but ultimately raises more questions than answers. However, one study of a single public library system provides a glimmer of insight. Focusing on outreach to organizations serving young adults (13 to 18-year-olds), the study articulates possible directions for further research on this vital issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The library has experienced many conversations with colleagues at the college in different departments lately related to the library tools and services it offers. Some of these conversations have included senior administrators, who have at some point directly supervised the library. In order for senior administrators to advocate for the library, librarians must educate them on the tools and services the library offers to its customers. Springshare's LibApps is one such tool that has been integral to library operations. In the few years since the library has subscribed to Springshare's LibApps' suite of tools, Office of Institutional Research & Training (OIRT) has successfully utilized this library-specific tool, which has justified the annual renewal of this software tool by senior administration. For more departments at the college to adopt these tools and integrate them into their day-to-day tasks, librarians must educate customers (student, staff, and faculty) as well as administration about this and other library-specific tools. Since Springshare markets to and for librarians and as more librarians write about how this tool can be used for a variety of different applications, then other departments college-wide will become aware of and then adopt Springshare's LibApps' suite of tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As data services gain momentum in academic libraries, liaison librarians are expected to be part of the education force for data literacy. Nonetheless, due to the broad scope of data literacy, training librarians to improve data-related skills can be challenging. This article used consultation statistics to identify tools and resources employed to solve users’ data questions. The results offered insights into users’ data needs and provided librarians with a clear direction to further develop data skills in their assigned disciplines. The methodology used in this study can be replicated at other institutions to identify needs and to direct professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role that administrators should take in enabling professional development is regularly discussed in the library literature. However, this article, seeking to provide information from a new perspective, stems from data gathered via qualitative interviews in order to explore experiences of academic librarians and to identify commonalities among the experiences that participants describe as meaningful. Themes that emerge relate to the balance between administrative suggestions versus mandates, librarians' desire to self-assess and self-select activities, the importance of job relevance, approaches to sharing information, and barriers to participation. They may offer insights to administrators who wish to facilitate continuing education of staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the way librarians define, leverage, and amplify expertise in a twenty-first century academic library. An expert team comprised of a nursing librarian, online learning librarian, information-literacy librarian, and assessment librarian sorted the learning outcomes from the Information-Literacy Competency Standards for Nursing created by the Health Sciences Interest Group taskforce of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) by grade-levels. Results found distinguishing experts within a library supports the customization of scaffolded instruction. Additionally, using expert teams in academic libraries supports the larger mission of universities to integrate libraries into teaching and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic body of knowledge about workplace bullying and burnout in academic libraries exists; however, there is a significant shortage of library and information science (LIS) literature regarding the related problem of low morale in any library environment; additionally, literature focusing on workplace bullying and burnout is quantitative, limiting insight into the animate experience of these events and inquiry into associated long-term effects. A phenomenological study was conducted to understand academic librarians' experience of low morale. Emergent themes connected workplace abuse, mental and physical health impacts, systemic influences, and the long-term consequences of low morale on LIS career trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projects in undergraduate research programs differ from assignments in courses in that they are independent of an institution's curriculum, and faculty mentoring plays a more important role. These programs can be fertile ground for librarians interested in participating. Whether such librarians would make good mentors for undergraduate researchers depends largely on their experience and education. Texas Tech University has two of these programs, but library support for them has been sporadic. The time is overdue for librarians involved in campus outreach and instruction to examine how they can best support Texas Tech's undergraduate research activities, and, in particular, whether they are adequately prepared to provide effective mentoring to undergraduate research students. This article reports on such an examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing interest in applying user experience (UX) methods to improve library interfaces, spaces, and services, it is critical to gain a deeper understanding of the organizational factors influencing libraries' adoption and incorporation of UX expertise. This article reports the results of semi-structured interviews with 16 UX librarians and focuses on how the positions were created, the benefits they have brought to their library, their biggest challenges, and the extent that their work is understood throughout the library. The article concludes with a preliminary model of library UX maturity and six critical directions for the future of UX librarianship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Academic libraries are taking a closer look at how well they are serving the needs of their users. As a result assessment activities become more important. In this column, the authors will focus on and describe one major tool of assessment—the user survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]