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The study examined occupational stress and job engagement among library personnel at selected Nigerian state and federal universities. A descriptive survey methodology was employed in the study. This study used questionnaires for ascertaining work engagement and occupational stress to survey 76 respondents. Results indicated that library personnel experienced high occupational stress, which displayed significantly low levels of job engagement. In contrast, those with a low level of occupational stress showed significantly increased levels of engagement at work. The data suggested that female library personnel reported experiencing more occupational stress than male library personnel and the mean difference was statistically significant, t (74) = -3.416, p =.001. The limitation of this research includes the smallness of sample size, which calls for a larger sample to validate the findings further. Rational emotive behavioral therapy can be adapted for managing the levels of work engagement and occupational stress in librarians.

A web content analysis and case study were employed to analyze the research evaluation service practices and activities in 12 Chinese academic libraries - Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, Tongji University, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, East China Normal University, Shandong Normal University, and Donghua University. Specifically, the following aspects were examined: names of the services, service type, user training, support platforms, staffing, partnerships, marketing, and publicity and the time when the services were developed. The study found that a majority of Chinese academic libraries engaged in a variety of research evaluation service activities from article/journal/ author assessments to patent assessments. Most research evaluation services were expanding from basic services such as citation searches, sci-tech novelty searches, and scholarly output statistical analyses to higher level services such as subject evaluations, subject/ field trend analyses, and talent evaluations. Consequently, the user training, support platforms, staffing, partnerships, and marketing and publicity related to research evaluation services are increasing. The study also found that research evaluation services in Chinese academic libraries are based mainly on bibliometrics, and many of the services are being gradually automated and service management is being gradually standardized and institutionalized, while service effectiveness is gradually moving towards productization and specialization. However, these services do not yet extend to all aspects of the research impact cycle. Recommendations from the study include: incorporating new metrics and new types of research output into the current research evaluation systems; using unique author identifier profile systems to link research evaluation data systems and constructing a research impact cycle-oriented service system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a recovery project for Ernest Boyer's scholarship of teaching as presented in Scholarship Reconsidered. It addresses a reinterpretation of Boyer's scholarship of teaching promulgated by his Carnegie successor, Lee Shulman and popularized throughout the academy. Serendipitously, that reinterpretation gave birth to what is now known as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), which has undoubtedly benefitted the academy. While this project focuses on the reinterpretation's ramifications for tenure-track academic library faculty who teach, it also argues that the foundational interpretation of Boyer's model could benefit the academy at large and that the two interpretations are not mutually exclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Knowledge management (KM) and innovation have been recognized as critical success factors for libraries since 1990s and 1980s, respectively; however, neither is easily achieved. In this context, the current study aims to explore – using structural equation modeling – the extent to which various organizational, technological, and personal factors influence the creation of new knowledge and innovation in academic libraries. More specifically, vision and goals, culture, and structure (formalization and centralization) are explored in terms of organizational factors; IT support is examined in the technological context; and human resources skills and perceptions toward KM are investigated in terms of personal factors. For the collection of primary data a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to Greek academic library personnel. The final sample comprised 312 professionals from 28 libraries. Results indicate that a visionary leadership facilitates the creation of new knowledge through fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and learning, providing opportunities for taking initiatives, and creating the appropriate technological environment. All these help libraries develop innovative services, thus responding more quickly and effectively to their changing external environment. Most importantly, library leaders should focus on building a common vision that will guide necessary practices and changes for innovation to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses results from an autumn 2022 survey of academic library employees in the United States regarding their work modality options and preferences. The study found that more than three-quarters of participants have the option of remote or hybrid work options on a regular basis and that similar numbers of faculty and staff have these options. Remote work frequency for participants with remote/hybrid work options varied. The study's examination of participants' work modality preferences reveals that a total of 51 % prefer to work mostly remotely (i.e., at least three or more days per week remotely) and a total of 49 % prefer to work mostly on site (i.e., only one or two days per week remotely, at most). Notably, only 4 % of participants indicated that they prefer to work on site every day. In addition, participants' reasons for preferring either remote or on-site work were examined, and several trends were identified. The findings from this study have implications for work conditions in U.S. academic libraries and provide insights into the shifting landscape of this segment of the workforce. The paper further contributes to the larger literature on remote work and its significance in the American workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Libraries temporarily relocated to a hockey rink while the campus library building underwent two years of extensive renovation and construction. Faced with a daunting move and upset patrons in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, RIT Libraries embraced the unexpected with creativity and humor. RIT Libraries gained buy-in and converted critics into fans by developing an integrated campaign as unconventional as their new home and engaging staff and campus partners throughout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When disaster hits and space is at a premium or when other offices need or want space, eyes often turn towards the library. After a tornado hit the campus and their building was devastated, the University's Library became the home to one academic unit's classes. Additionally, after a new division was created, the Library once again lost space. This case study explores that academic library's experience with both situations and the work the library staff completed to prepare the spaces for non-library entities to move into the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities faced a variety of options regarding COVID-19 preparations and enforcement rules in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. Libraries were on the front line as they provided computer labs, wi-fi, study spaces, and academic resources. The Angelo and Jennette Volpe Library at Tennessee Tech University made major changes as part of a campus-wide mobilization to provide face to face classes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff installed dozens of signs, stored away hundreds of chairs, and recorded new public address announcements. Students started the semester wearing masks, but as a group they steadily moved in the direction of masklessness. During the final week of the semester only 38% were wearing masks over their noses and mouths. Between semesters the university administration asked the library dean to strictly enforce mask wearing in the library. Volunteer library staff strictly en- forced mask wearing, including removing students from the library without a warning for not wearing a mask. As a result of the new enforcement students wore masks at a 95% rate with another 4% wearing their masks below their noses. The latter were asked to raise their masks. The tale of the two semesters shows that strict enforcement can generate a high compliance rate despite students' inclination toward not wearing masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are desirable work locations for undergraduate students and graduate library science interns alike. However, using undergraduate and graduate library science students only to perform task-oriented work within a traditional, hierarchical supervisory structure does not provide the maximum benefit to the student or the library, as it removes opportunities for students learning from each other. Our model proposes to create a team-based framework that engages students around a project and makes uses of myriad centers of expertise in the library. We employed this framework around the Douglass Alumnae Oral History Project, which provided opportunities for students to build their skills in digital projects, communication, teamwork, and community building. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Knowledge management is vital in many work environments; however, it is difficult to measure the outcome of knowledge management and to distinguish the typology of knowledge activities. This study proposes a knowledge activity scale for assessing individual tacit knowledge and organizational knowledge. This study not only explores knowledge activities of knowledge workers from both individual and organizational dimensions but also investigates the empirical data from academic librarians with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of both individual and organizational levels. More than 550 sample data were collected and analyzed in several stages. To conduct a multilevel analysis, the final sample consisted of 286 persons from 40 universities and colleges, and the organizational sizes ranged from 3 to 22 persons. The results show 6 constructs for individual dimensions (knowledge acquisition, knowledge absorption, knowledge sharing, knowledge obstacles, knowledge transfers, and knowledge diffusion) and 3 constructs for organizational dimensions (knowledge growth, knowledge integration, and knowledge breadth). The scale from both individual and organizational dimensions shows robust psychometric properties with acceptable levels of reliability and validity. The proposed scale can reveal the value of librarians' intangible work and also indicate the level of creative organizational climate within academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding a position in an academic library can be challenging for recent Library and Information Science (LIS) graduates. While LIS students are often encouraged to seek out experience, network, and improve upon their technology skills in hopes of better improving their odds in the job market, little research exists to support this anecdotal advice. This study quantifies the academic and work experiences of recent LIS graduates in order to provide a better understanding of what factors most significantly influence the outcome of their academic library job searches. The survey results demonstrate that the job outlook is most positive for candidates who applied early, obtained academic library experience (preferably employment), participated in professional conferences, and gained familiarity with committee work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

These days few libraries can afford to hire new leaders to head teams, manage people and projects effectively, and contribute to the vision and direction of the organization. As organizational charts flatten increased levels of responsibility are expected of employees. These changes require libraries to increase the leadership skills of the talented librarians and staff members already working at their libraries. This paper describes a collaborative project between the University of Houston Libraries Training Committee and the University of Houston Human Resources Department (HR) in which emerging leaders within the library attended a semester-long intensive program designed to nurture Excellence in Library Leadership (ELLP). Successful applicants to the University of Houston Libraries ELLP participated in personality and emotional intelligence assessments; attended six interactive day-long sessions with content specifically tailored to leadership skills in the library setting; and formed a cohort that has been active in planning and advocating for continued leadership and emotional intelligence training within the organization. This paper discusses the content of the program, the lessons learned from two cohorts, information about how other libraries might pilot a similar program, and a description of how the ELLP is impacting UH Libraries' culture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined academic library employees' experiences during "strengths education," a process of learning about individual strengths during a positive psychology intervention. Participants took the Clifton StrengthsFinder test, attended a workshop, and then were interviewed about what they considered to be the effects of the strengths training. The focus of the qualitative analysis was the interviewees' statements about the intrapersonal and interpersonal effects of learning about their strengths. We categorized and coded these statements as cognitions formed, emotions experienced, and applications envisioned. Our findings raise interesting implications for job satisfaction and employee self-esteem, especially during times of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated leadership styles, promotion opportunities, and salary as correlates of turnover intention among librarians in Nigerian academic libraries. It applied the correlational survey design, and data was gathered with a questionnaire. The entire 115 librarians in three (3) universities in South-South, Nigeria formed the population of this study. The data was analyzed with mean and Pearson Moment Correlation (2-tailed). The findings show that the turnover intention of the librarians was high; leadership, promotion opportunities, and salary positively correlate with the turnover intention. The major implication of the findings of the study is that the issue of leadership style, promotion, and salary should be carefully planned by the management of the library, otherwise, the librarians will leave the library whenever the opportunity shows up. These findings provide new data for planning the management of library staff to achieve effective information service in the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two-decades academic libraries updated current staff job responsibilities or created brand new roles. This allowed them to adapt to scholarly communication developments and consequently enabled them to offer efficient services to their users. The global calls for openly accessible research results has shifted the institutional, national and international focus and their constant evolvement has required the creation of new research positions in academic libraries. This study reports on the findings of an analysis of job descriptions in the open research services as advertised by UK academic libraries. Method: From March 2015 to March 2017, job advertisements relating to open access, repositories and research data management were collected. Results: The analysis of the data showed that the primary responsibilities of the open research support staff were: to ensure and facilitate compliance with funders' open access policies, maintain the tools that enable compliance, create reports and collect statistics that measure compliance rates and commit to continuous liaising activities with research stakeholders. Discussion: It is clear that the open research services is a complex environment, requiring a variety of general and subject specific skill sets, while often a role may involve more than one area of expertise. Conclusion: The results of this study could benefit prospective employees and universities that wish to embed open research skills in their curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses training and development of library staff in Ghana. Topics discussed include development of human resource management is focus of staff training in organization; talks about learning function of effective resource management and service delivery; and ensuring efficient performance for benefit of library system and the users.

Altmetrics track the attention paid to scholarship via mentions in social media, the press, and other non-traditional venues. For library and information science (LIS) faculty, altmetrics are also a new and important area for research and teaching. We conducted a survey of LIS faculty teaching in US and Canadian graduate LIS programs accredited by the American Library Association in which we asked about their familiarity with and awareness of measures of research impact, including altmetrics. Our results indicate that while most LIS faculty in our sample had some awareness of altmetrics, they reported greater familiarity with traditional measures of research impact such as citation counts and usage statistics. We also confirmed that, among our sample, there was a relationship between years of teaching experience and awareness of altmetrics, as well as among familiarity with altmetrics, familiarity with citation counts, and familiarity with usage statistics. Among the robust, global body of research related to the use of new measures of research impact among scientists and scholars, there are few studies that use survey methods and focus on faculty scholars within a specific discipline. The results of this study contribute new knowledge to the existing body of research on altmetrics and may contribute to the development of LIS graduate curricula devoted to measures of research impact and their application in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering students often conduct information searches without sufficient consideration of the context of their research topic. This article discusses how development of a new information literacy (IL) mindset through instruction in integrated IL education affects students' understanding of research problems and formulation of information search questions. The course observed is a mechanical engineering seminar for undergraduate engineering students with integrated IL education. A survey-based research method is utilized with surveys carried out at three stages of the course. The results show that as the course progressed, students' interdisciplinary research problem descriptions became more profound and their formulations of information search questions developed more advanced understanding of the principles of information use. Preliminary parallel results have been analyzed from 2013 to 2016 at a university of technology in Finland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined, qualitatively and quantitatively, how academic faculty members perceive the role of academic library workers (ALWs) and how these workers perceive their own roles in the library. Interviews were conducted with 20 faculty members and with 15 ALWs in three academic institutes in Israel, after which 191 faculty members and 50 ALWs from the same institutes completed a close-ended questionnaire. The interviews indicated that, in both study groups, a clear and unequivocal role definition for ALWs is currently lacking, while in both groups the definition "information scientist" has not yet been established, as some faculty members mentioned role definitions other than "librarian" or "information scientist". The quantitative findings demonstrated that both study groups believe the role definition is mainly according to the library in which the ALWs work and that the main distinction between "librarian" and "information scientist" is being proficient in the field of information technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to get insights on library users’ information retrieval behavior, as reflected in log files, reports, and publishers’ counts. From the data it appears that the library’s discovery tool is not the major source for accessing full text items and the patrons often prefer other sources such as Google Scholar. Google Scholar cannot replace the library, but it can link users to resources that the patrons can access, through library subscriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the relationship between access to and use of information and communication technology and task performances of library personnel in public university libraries in South West Nigeria. The total enumeration technique was used to cover 330 library professionals working in public university libraries in the zone. A self-developed questionnaire was used to obtain data. Out of the 330 copies of questionnaire administered 248 (76.6%) copies were found useable. The findings revealed that the level of task performances of the respondents was high, and the level of access to ICT was high, while the frequency of ICT use was moderate. The results indicated that there was a positive relative effect of ICT access and use on task performances. The study also found a significant relationship between the access to ICT, ICT use and task performances of respondents, while there was a significant joint effect of access to ICT and ICT use on the task performances of library personnel. The study recommended the constant development of personnel regarding job knowledge and skills, the promotion of creativity and adaptability skills to enhance personnel task performances, while library managers should continue to make ICT tools accessible for library personnel to allow their use in improving the workflow in the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, a solely owned Australian international university library in Vietnam underwent major changes that included a new staff structure. At the beginning of the year, an Irish-Australian Senior Library Manager was newly appointed to manage a team of Vietnamese library staff. The library service was reviewed and restructured to better align with the organisation's strategic objectives in relation to research, learning and teaching. The challenges in leading and managing a library restructure in a cross-cultural context are examined from both Eastern and Western leadership perspectives. This case study illustrates that although cultural differences can be perceived, similarities in effective leadership and management are key to implementation success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined job satisfaction and self-efficacy of library personnel as determinants of their job performance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Total enumeration was used to cover 112 library personnel using structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Four research questions were answered in the study. Result obtained indicated that, the levels of job performance, job satisfaction and self-efficacy of library personnel in universities in Southwest Nigeria were high. Job satisfaction has the highest relative contribution to the job performance of library personnel. Among what the paper recommends is that, that good working condition should be put in place so as to sustain the high level of job motivation and job satisfaction among the library personnel in universities in particular and other higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an investigation on knowledge-sharing strategies among library staff at selected university libraries in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study dealt with the following research questions: What factors affect knowledge sharing among library staff? What type of knowledge is shared among staff? What channels of communication are preferred for knowledge sharing? What capacity-building strategies are available for knowledge sharing among library staff? What policies, if any, are available to promote knowledge sharing? How can knowledge sharing be improved among library staff? The study was underpinned by the post-positivist paradigm and used the Nonaka and Takeuchi SECI model of knowledge creation as the theoretical lens. The study findings revealed that knowledge sharing at university libraries in KwaZulu-Natal was limited owing to a number of factors such as the lack of a knowledge-sharing culture, trust, and support from top management, hierarchical organisational structures, and the absence of knowledge-sharing policies. The study thus concludes that though library staff were acquiring both tacit and explicit knowledge through conferences and seminars and on-the-job training, the sharing of such knowledge was limited. It was recommended that continuous capacity-building and mentorship programmes that focus on gaps in succession planning within university libraries in South Africa be put in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the involvement of the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford in developing new services for research data management. It offers reflections on what such additional support means for academic librarians, specifically considering support offered by subject consultants and a series of research data management (RDM) training workshops. The need to reshape library roles, teams and collections to accommodate developments in support for research data and its management is discussed. Additional actions being carried out within the Bodleian Libraries to help further meet these needs are outlined and include the development of the role of a Data Librarian and engagement of a network of librarians with this expanding area of professional knowledge. This review of what has been achieved so far provides fellow practitioners with valuable lessons and pointers to consider when reviewing the support required within their own institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New research needs, global developments and local shifts in emphasis are demanding a broader range of interactions by librarians with researchers and are challenging previous staffing structures. Research has a higher institutional profile and academic libraries have responded by creating new roles and staffing models, with stronger linkage across campus as partners rather than supporters. Particular circumstances at National University of Ireland Galway have shaped its Library's staffing configuration for research. These include the emergence of digital scholarship across campus, opportunities offered by a new research building, the growing importance of archives and the publication of a new institutional strategy. Significant reductions in staffing and budget are influential too. Distinctive features in the revised staffing model are organization by function instead of subject, prioritization of engagement with digital scholarship, distributed management of archives and special collections, and a particular emphasis on contribution across multiple teams. This case study reports early gains and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the contributions of Greg Holt to public libraries. Topics include a background on Holt's education, his becoming the executive director and city librarian of the Saint Louis Public Library (SLPL) in 1987, and an overview of his other career highlights. Also mentioned is his editorship of the journal "Public Library Quarterly."

This study examines staff security in Sam Jonah Library and investigates the security breach experience of staff as well as identifies the measures put in place to ensure staff security in the library. The research methodology used is the descriptive survey design which used both interview and questionnaires to solicit information from respondents. The census sampling technique was used where all the units in the population formed part of the study. Results indicate that security breach that staff are exposed to include; property theft, verbal abuse from user, encounters with riff raffs and fear during night shift due to the absence of adequate security personnel. Further, findings indicate the absence of a security policy for the library. Again, inadequate measures are put in place to ensure staff security in the library. This study then recommends access control to the library, installation of closed circuit television cameras and promulgation of a security policy by the library that would formalise course of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the influence of job rotation on employee productivity in federal university libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design using 653 academic librarians and library officers in Southern Nigeria. Total enumeration method was used because the entire population (342 Librarians and 311 library officers which gave a total of 653 staff in the eighteen (18) federal university libraries in Southern Nigeria) was considered appropriate for this study. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire, and 621 responded to the questionnaire which gave a total return of 95% used for the research. The study revealed that job rotation enhances employee productivity in library operation and also enhances increase in productivity in a particular task. The study therefore recommends that University librarians and management of institution should ensure that job rotation is encouraged in library operation by allocating of special fund to the exercise. In addition, rotation of library staff should be done on a yearly basis before such a staff is deployed to other sections of the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two collaborative programs at a small academic library that leverage the insights, engagement, and interests of our most important asset: our staff. Two new library committees, the Staff Training Advisory Group and the Marketing Team, extended planning, accountability, and partnerships to paraprofessional staff members. The onset and associated activities of these two committees yielded not only direct results in terms of staff training programs and marketing initiatives, but also resulted in creating a more collaborative culture and shared purpose in our library. This paper examines how the overlap of these two committees created a convergence that fostered excitement about the library, interest in improving library roles, and furthering library initiatives. By working together, and with our university community, we developed solid, popular programs in addition to cultivating a more intentional, thoughtful, and inclusive approach to our work and, ultimately, to supporting our university community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality customer service is an important aim of the library experience. Its importance is evidenced by attention given to the topic in scholarly literature and academic conference proceedings. This article describes the challenging process of creating and delivering a blended customer service training curriculum to all library staff working at public service points in the University of Maryland Libraries. An online course, in-person workshops, and digital badges were devised. Assessment was conducted at the end of the first year, resulting in revisions to the course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World Café, sometimes termed Knowledge Café, is now an established method of facilitating productive dialogue between a group or groups of people around an issue that matters to the group as a whole. Now a world movement, the methodology is straightforward and uses conversation as a key process to connect people, who may be from different organizations, age groups, cultures, continents, and so forth. Café conversations draw on the wisdom and creativity of the participants to explore issues of concern to them and to confront real life challenges. Following some background information and a brief review of the literature relating to the World Café, this article presents a case study of the application of the model to facilitate discussion and learning around a topic of common concern, frontline desk services, for 61 staff from 11 Irish academic libraries at Maynooth University (MU) Library in October 2015. This was part of a one-day staff development event: MU Library Innovation Day. The application of the World Café methodology is described. The results of the evaluation of the event are presented and discussed. Actions and outcomes are provided. Limitations of the case study are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has compared job satisfaction as well as impact of ICT on job satisfaction among five university library professionals. To conduct this study survey method has been followed. Due to poor response of RBU and NBU, only four universities have taken for this study. Data analysis has done by using MS-Excel software. Results shows that Library professionals of all the universities are more or less satisfied to work in ICT environment. But they are dissatisfied with salary, benefits as well as promotional policies of the universities. Professionals of all the universities seem that training facilities are very poor. It is also seen from the study that professionals of CU and JU are more satisfied to work in ICT environment compared to other universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In its efforts to engage more fully with the general campus and create a stronger bond with students and faculty, the LSU Libraries decided to initiate a film series. The committee that formed to create this series conceived of it as a way to raise the profile of the library on the LSU campus, particularly with students, to provide the opportunity for greater collaboration with discipline faculty, and to enhance the library's educational role, as well as to highlight the quality of some excellent and overlooked documentaries. This paper will review the experiences of the LSU Libraries with its film series, which has been running to this point for two years. The authors will investigate the "nuts and bolts" of an academic library initiating a film series, some of the pitfalls and opportunities such a series entails, and how those pitfalls can be managed and opportunities capitalized upon, as well as touching on some theoretical issues related to these matters, such as collaboration between libraries and faculty, the academic library as place, and "engagement" vs. "outreach." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library budget cuts have severely reduced library positions. Managers can prepare for unexpected changes in staffing by creating workplace instructions for each library position and maintaining these documents through cloud based technology. Low or no cost applications are explored in this article to provide an overview of technology available to library managers who are concerned about staff shortages and preparing libraries for eventual staff replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents employment classified advertisements for a position of library administrator at the library of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover music college of Hannover, Germany as well as a position as an interim library service director at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Bibliothek library in Hannover.

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore issues, approaches and challenges in providing strategic direction to university libraries on developing their physical space in what is increasingly a digital age. A key aspect of the work is to explore how university libraries and their senior staff can widen libraries' role to inform the strategic direction of formal and informal learning spaces across the institution. Design/methodology/approach -- Research and perspectives from across the world provide the context for the study. A single site case study based at Loughborough University in the UK is explored to demonstrate how strategy for university library space is developed. The case study also provides an example of how a university library has extended its influence on other informal learning spaces. Findings -- University library physical space has an important role in learning, teaching and research, despite the increase in digital information provision. For effective strategy, information and evidence needs to be collected from a wide range of sources. The experience and skills that university libraries have developed in managing learning spaces can be transferred to learning spaces elsewhere in the university. Research limitations/implications -- This is a single site case study. Practical implications -- The case study provides approaches and ideas that can be applied by university libraries in the strategic development of learning spaces. Originality/value -- The paper provides an innovative and informed insight into how university libraries can influence learning and teaching spaces across university campus/site. Further research would be valuable to identify practice more widely. Surveying, from a library perspective, university and university estate, management strategies for content relating to libraries and formal and informal spaces across the institution and what is going on/being planned in this area would further progress the debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a combination of alignment with organisational directions, methodical organisation and more informal and creative efforts to generate purposeful learning in organisations, and provides examples of innovative practice. It describes how a large academic library provides its staff with extensive and purposeful learning opportunities aligned to the strategic directions of the university and its expectations of staff. The staff development planning process is outlined and the approach to creating a common vision of the importance of continuous learning and sharing learning is discussed. RMIT University Library's structured and methodical approach has been successful in creating a positive and energetic learning culture. The library uses a variety of continuing education approaches and, in particular, recognises the value of experience-based learning. Examples of innovative approaches include: an effective library Cross Unit Work Experience (CUE) programme; team building workshops; specific purpose groups; development of an Innovation Process Model and practical tools to improve creativity; and a Reference Competencies project. Even with a positive learning culture in place it remains challenging to maintain staff's currency, particularly in the area of technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The article aims to identify areas of potential research support that none of the traditional supportive actors (libraries, IT units, information units) have concerned themselves with, arguing for new tasks and roles for the academic library, specifically the special librarian. Design/methodology/approach – Areas of "overload" in the digital practice of contemporary researchers are identified and then connected to various personalized digital tools. The article explores the idea that attention to new aspects of researchers information needs creates a potential for developing personalized meta-services at academic libraries. Findings – It is possible to identify a wealth of new services that can, if put into practice, substantially redefine the relationship between academic librarians and researchers. This entails a turn from service aimed at novice users to sophisticated end-users. Such ideas also carry implications for LIS education programs and the need to build on special librarians who uphold competence in distinct knowledge domains. Two forms of domain-specific meta-services are explored: as support for collaboration and support for presentation. Practical implications – It is suggested that academic libraries systematically utilize the "full cost" model of project funding in order to exhibit concrete benefits of personalized meta-services. The article holds implications for both academic libraries and for LIS educational institutions. Originality/value – Personalized meta-services constitute a relatively fresh topic and have previously not been explored in connection with academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of the current article is to clarify whether the staff of Estonian university libraries has enough possibilities for self-realization and variety in their everyday work; whether employees see any relationship between their personal performance improvement and their intra-organizational career and, whether they see any possibility and/or necessity for promotion within their library. Design/methodology/approach – The data used in this paper are based on reviewing of relevant literature to provide an overview of the concept of intra-organizational career as well as on the results of the original online survey, created by the paper's authors, held in 2011/2012 in Estonian university libraries governed by public law in Estonia. The analysis of the results is interpreted on the basis of the literature, authors' opinions, based on long-term working experience in Estonian academic libraries and on the legislation of Estonia. Findings – Estonian university librarians are relatively pessimistic about career opportunities within their libraries, and, unfortunately do not see any relation between performance improvement and their career. The biggest problem is that the younger librarians do not see any opportunities for promotion. In Estonian university libraries, there does not exist an adequate grading system for promotion. Practical implications – Based on the current study, it can be said that the biggest challenge for university libraries in Estonia is to keep young professionals in libraries and in this way prevent the continuing growth of the average age of employees in the organization. This challenge would require from managements of the university libraries: to take bolder action in analyzing personnel and staff developments and promotion plans; to build up an adequate and clear career system; and pay more attention to the organizations' internal reserves. Originality/value – The majority of the literature in library science in Estonia has focused – and rightfully so – on the user: what do users and patrons want and/or need, how do they use it, how can librarians best provide it to them, do the users feel themselves comfortable in library building, etc. No research has been previously carried out in the Estonian library context to determine employees' attitudes towards librarians intra-organizational career development opportunities. The issues that emerge from this survey could be helpful for library managers, but also for employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the job descriptions and roles of information professionals in academic libraries. Topics discussed include job qualifications and required competencies, new job titles, including data librarian, semantic librarian, and copyright and licensing librarian, and primary job activities for each title.

The article announces several appointments including Barbara Tierney as Head of Research & Information Services (RIS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries, Blynne Olivieri as assistant professor and special collections librarian at the University of West Georgia, and Jenifer Grady as executive director of the library organization Tenn-Share.