We are seeking chapter proposals for a new edited collection with the working title: Innovative Library Workplaces: Transformative Human Resource Strategies
Introduction
Innovative Library Workplaces will be an edited collection focused on the most important resource at any academic library: the people who work there. This topic will be examined from the perspective of recruitment and retention, as well as the underlying issues of organizational culture and structure. This will include the dynamic changes that emerged as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Great Resignation, and the need for greater diversity and equity.
Target Audience
The targeted audience is library managers and administrators, with a secondary focus on LIS students studying human resource issues.
Objective and Focus
The focus will be innovative, practical solutions to contemporary human resource issues. Though we will accept a variety of proposed chapter types, including qualitative and quantitative studies, case studies, and literature reviews, each section is required to provide a conclusion with lessons learned and practical advice for readers.
Book Sections
This book will have two sections, the first dealing with recruitment and retention initiatives and the second dealing with work culture, organizational structure, and philosophical and strategic approaches to human resources.
Chapter Topics
Section I: For the first section, focusing on recruitment and retention activities in libraries, we will accept chapters such as, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Salary and wage initiatives, including salary studies and large-scale compensation adjustments.
- Initiatives related to employee benefits.
- Recruitment and hiring approaches, practices, and initiatives.
- Employee wellness initiatives, broadly interpreted to include mental, physical, and emotional wellness.
- Diversity and inclusion approaches, practices, and initiatives.
- Long-term changes in the library workplace related to the Great Resignation and the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Employee satisfaction.
- Employee retention.
- Work-life balance approaches, practices, and initiatives.
- Combating employee burn out.
- Succession planning and developing future leaders.
- Other topics related to improving work for library employees.
Section II: For the second section, focusing on work culture, organizational structure, library jobs, and strategic and philosophical approaches to human resources in libraries, we will accept chapters such as, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Shifting strategic approaches to library human resources.
- Shifting philosophical approaches to library human resources.
- Changes in organizational structures and approaches to library organization.
- Changes in library jobs, including duties, qualifications, and scope.
- Changes in library work and organizational cultures, including those relevant to equity, diversity, and inclusion; and/or addressing institutional and structural racism.
- Explorations of the way that changing jobs, organizational structures, and human resource approaches impact the nature of library work.
- New approaches to LIS education that reflect changes in the required proficiencies for librarians.
- Changes in the way we work, including flexible work arrangements and new approaches to working from new locations.
- The ways libraries can succeed in establishing organizational trust in remote working situations.
- The way that changes in work structure result in changes to how we approach tasks.
- Shifts in the employment market that impact the nature of library work.
- Job structures and grades, paths for promotion, and building opportunities for growth and leadership development into positions and job classes.
- Other topics related to changing organizational structures and approaches in libraries.
Chapter Structure
Each chapter should include a problem definition, literature review, and conclusion with takeaways, best practices, lessons learned, and other advice.
Proposal Instructions
Complete proposals of no more than 500 words and a short bio should be submitted using this form by September 9, 2022. The editors will review all submitted proposals and identify chapters for inclusion in the book. Notifications for accepted proposals will be sent by October 10, 2022. If accepted, first drafts of completed cases will be due by January 30, 2023. The expected length for a chapter is 2,500 - 5,000 words. In addition to addressing each section included in the chapter structure, proposals should include a description of how the chapter will address innovation in human resource approaches.
Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by Association of College & Research Libraries. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2024.
Important Dates
September 9, 2022: Proposal submission deadline
October 10, 2022: Notification of Acceptance of Proposal
January 30, 2022: Full Chapter Draft Submission Deadline
Any questions can be submitted directly to the editors: Lisa Hopkins or Bridgit McCafferty at innovativelibraryworkplaces@gmail.com.
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Lisa Hopkins
Head of Technical Services, Assistant Dean of the University Library & Archives
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Bridgit McCafferty
Dean of the University Library & Archives
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
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