Search results

This purpose of this paper is to discuss a collaboration with a non-profit organization conducted as part of the Real Learning Connections project at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The authors discuss their experiences working with a non-profit partner from outside the university and the benefits gained from collaboration.

This is a reflection based on the personal experiences of the authors as collaborators in the project.

Through their experience with the Real Learning Connections project, the authors found that collaborating with a non-profit organization provides a unique opportunity for library school students to learn practical skills while also providing value to the non-profit organization in the form of expertise in information services.

This piece discusses the benefits of collaboration from the perspective of both an Library and Information Studies (LIS) student and a professional librarian, as well as considering the experiences of an external non-profit organization.

Library and Information Studies (LIS) education is changing to meet the needs of a dynamic, information-seeking public by infusing new skills development into the education process. This includes new ways to teach from a theoretical point of view in the classroom, new partnerships and expectations, and learning from practitioners through practicums, internships, and volunteering. Embracing innovation and entrepreneurship within the education framework for library and information science education will ensure a profession that can change and be sustainable into the future.

Examples and active programs from field literature are provided to make the case for the need to include entrepreneurial skill development into the LIS curriculum and program development.

This chapter will discuss the value of applying or including an entrepreneurial education component into LIS programs. Changes to practicum experiences can also help students engage more broadly and redefine how to provide library resources and services in an uncertain future. The value to the student will also be examined. Whether as part of a standard program or as part of a professional development initiative, students or individuals obtaining competencies and skills related to risk-taking, building diverse relationships, and becoming comfortable with ambiguity will increase their chances for a broader range of employment.

The work in this chapter has been developed and shared in pieces at various presentations and venues but never collected and documented as a single work, but for this chapter.

This paper aims to explore the concept of providing education and guidance to library staff for the purpose of supporting philanthropic activities made on behalf of the library. The need for this type of activity and basic principles of philanthropy are included.

This paper includes a through literature review and a case study narrative with examples on activities at the author’s home institution.

The literature supports that cultivating a broader, more detailed understanding of philanthropic activities within the organization, will improve fundraising results and individual satisfaction for giving and receiving.

The concepts discussed have beginnings in other institutions and recognize a trend of adapting business models to libraries’ needs.

The is the author’s own work, shared with members of the author’s organization.

This paper aims to advocate the consideration of Maslow’s Grumble Theory to advance motivational activities within the organization, as well as matching individual needs to morale concerns. This includes a view of associated costs as an investment instead of a common expense.

This paper includes a study of Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy and related literature that supports a modern interpretation. Suggestions are made for administrators to view solving complaints or grumbles proactively by investing in appropriate activities.

Overall, if complaints are viewed as opportunities to address individual needs, with the top level of grumbles empowered to help support high-level organizational functions, the organization can benefit greatly.

This paper represents the author’s point of view after a study of Grumble Theory and self-application of suggestions.

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the importance of including emotional intelligence training with programs related to providing mentorship to others. Formal mentoring programs, established with specific goals and objectives, need foundation work for context in order to be successful. This chapter pulls from professional literature, important basic components of both emotional intelligence skills and attributes for successful mentoring. By demonstrating the relationship between emotional intelligence and mentors who are successful, future programs and activities within the workplace regarding formal mentorship structures can be influenced positively. There is a relationship between having good emotional intelligence skills by people who mentor and being successful within the mentoring relationship. Mentors who are more self-aware of their own emotions are more likely to manage a mentoring relationship more positively and with better outcomes. Library and information science professionals are undergoing tremendous change within the professional environment, the establishment of mentoring networks can greatly influence professional turnover. The opinions and concepts presented from professional literature has been used and adapted by the author in various workshops and presentations. It is this practitioner’s opinion that any formal mentoring program should start with providing a foundation of emotional intelligence skills for the mentors.

This paper aims to deal with recognizing and reacting to an aging workforce and understanding the value that older workers can still represent to an organization.

This article references field literature to support the points addressed.

Librarians and library workers have knowledge and experience that can provide value to both their organizations as they approach retirement and afterwards as retirees in a variety of ways.

This article represents the viewpoint of the author produced from his experiences and understandings.

This case study aims to outline the activities related to a project to create a foundation for the libraries’ social media activities and determine return on investment and value added for the efforts.

This case study describes the actions taken and the information tracked in establishing social media presence with recommendation for a sustainable program.

Social media adds value to libraries’ organizational personality, but it also incurs cost and effort that should be strategically managed.

This case study was conducted in the authors’ home institution.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s (UNCG) Library and Information Studies Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) Scholars Program has had on promoting diversity and adding value to the library and information studies profession.

This paper is presented as a case study in which three iterations of the ACE Scholars Program are discussed, including program design and suggested impact the program has had on educating and engaging diverse individuals for careers in the library and information studies professions.

Nearly 50 ACE Scholars program participants, representing ethnically, racially and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds, have graduated from UNCG with their Master of Library and Information Studies degrees since 2011. In the five years since the first ACE cohort graduated, Scholar alums continue to impact the Library and Information Studies (LIS) profession through their professional roles as well as through their community engagement, professional association memberships and leadership roles, professional presentations and numerous publications.

This paper presents a model that has helped to promote diversity in the LIS field in way that can be adapted by other graduate programs that are preparing individuals for successful and engaged careers as library and information studies professionals.

To identify change in the understanding of entrepreneurship in libraries through content analysis of presentations that were a part of the Conference for Entrepreneurial Librarians from 2009 through 2016. This chapter will discuss key topics and findings related to libraries and entrepreneurship.

Presentations delivered at the conference were categorized into topics and were tracked to uncover perceptions of what is entrepreneurial in libraries and how the importance of certain issues has changed over time. This chapter summarizes the results of that evaluation and of a survey of attendees after the conferences ended.

Entrepreneurship in libraries in 2009 was more heavily linked to making money. Over time, however, the term “entrepreneurial” became more conceptually associated with finding value, reaching out to new constituencies, and taking risks. There is a definite distinction as to the definition of “entrepreneurial” between public libraries (who consider community outreach to be a part of their core mission) and academic libraries (who often see this as an entrepreneurial enterprise). The finding that librarians attended the conference to “find change agents” indicates a yearning to identify with others in the field who are likewise seeking ways to be entrepreneurial.

The evaluation of the status of “entrepreneurship in libraries” has never before been undertaken by evaluating the presentations of the practitioners in a conference setting. Since the practitioners are determining what is most valuable to discuss with others in the field, this provides some insight into the status of entrepreneurship in the field.