Reaching Out to the Underserved: More Than Thirty Years of Outreach Job Ads

Boff, Colleen; Singer, Carol; Stearns, Beverly

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2005.12.007

Cited by 26 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Overall, the research identifies 21 outreach initiatives by academic librarians in America, but also discovers survey flaws as well as a limited audience. In 2006, Boff et al (2006) reported that although outreach activities were a part of the library for years, few positions dedicated a significant portion of a librarian's time on outreach. However, in 2011, Carter and Seaman's (2011, p. 166) research found 37 academic outreach librarians spending up to 50 percent of their time doing outreach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outreach initiatives in academic libraries, 2009‐2011

Dennis

2012

Reference Services Review

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Purpose -With outreach responsibilities on the rise in academic libraries and budgets declining or remaining stagnant, finding outreach initiatives that support the university in creative ways are on the rise. This study seeks to compare outreach initiatives by academic librarians to a project conducted by the author. Design/methodology/approach -Academic librarians with responsibilities in outreach, marketing, and promotion were targeted in a survey sent to listervs in the Summer of 2011. A total of 21 academic librarians described successful outreach initiatives. A small response rate reflects the target audience. Findings -The survey revealed a wide range of outreach initiatives that compare funding: library, university, grant, and other. The author's project greatly exceeded the cost of all other initiatives. Research limitations/implications -The research identifies survey flaws and a small reach to the targeted audience. Suggestions for future research include a modified survey to the Association of Library Communications and Outreach Professionals. Practical implications -Technology advancements and budget restraints have put pressure on outreach librarians to provide successful programs with less funding. Many colleges and universities across the nation have inserted outreach into public services positions. Originality/value -The literature produces limited research about successful outreach initiatives over the past five years where economic duress has been nationwide. Outreach librarians will find inspiration in the collected outreach projects undertaken at 21 colleges and universities across America to create projects with limited funding.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outreach initiatives in academic libraries, 2009‐2011

Dennis

2012

Reference Services Review

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“…Studies of the content of job advertisements have analyzed specific jobs or job categories, such as cataloging (Buttlar & Garcha, 1998;Hall-Ellis, 2005); serials cataloging (Copeland, 1997); collection development and management (Robinson, 1993); electronic, electronic resource, and digital librarian positions (Albitz, 2002;Croneis & Henderson, 2002); serials (Kwasik, 2002;Mueller & Mering, 1991), systems (Foote, 1997) and technical services (Deeken & Thomas, 2006). Others examples include outreach (Boff, Singer, & Stearns, 2006); preservation (Cloonan & Norcott, 1989); reference (Cardina & Wicks, 2004;Detmering & Sproles, 2012;Wang, Tang, & Knight, 2010;White, 2000); reference-bibliographers (Schreiner-Robles & Germann, 1989); special collections (Hansen, 2011); subject specialists (Detlefsen, 1992;McAbee & Graham, 2005;White, 1999); and science and engineering (Bychowski, Caffrey, Costa, Moore, Sudhakaran, & Zhang, 2010;Osorio, 1999). example, Wells (1982) reviewed education, experience, qualifications, and responsibilities as outlined in job advertisements for academic librarians from three publications between 1959 and 1979.…”

Section: The Proliferation Of New Positions In Academic Librariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succession Planning in Academic Libraries: A Reconsideration

Weare¹

2015

Advances in Library Administration and Organization

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Purpose: It has been widely projected in the library literature that a substantial number of librarians will retire in the near future leaving significant gaps in the workforce, especially in library leadership. Many of those concerned with organizational development in libraries have promoted succession planning as an essential tool for addressing this much-anticipated wave of retirements. The purpose of this paper is to argue that succession planning is the wrong approach for academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides a review of the library literature on succession planning, as well as studies analyzing position announcements in librarianship which provide evidence as to the extent to which academic librarianship has changed in recent years. Findings: In a review of the library literature the author found no sound explanation of why succession planning is an appropriate method for filling anticipated vacancies and no substantive evidence that succession planning programs in libraries are successful. Practical implications: Rather than fill anticipated vacancies with librarians prepared to fill specific positions by means of a succession planning program, the author recommends that academic library leaders should focus on the continual evaluation of current library needs and future library goals, and treat each vacancy as an opportunity to create a new position that will best satisfy the strategic goals of the library. Originality/value: In contrast to the nearly universal support for succession planning found in the library literature, this paper offers a different point of view.

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“…Accordingly, outreach positions in academic libraries have been on the rise in recent decades. 1 However, job postings for these positions fluctuate in how they describe the role. Some libraries devote a full-time position to outreach, while others combine outreach duties with other primary roles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing Competencies for Outreach Work in Academic Libraries

Metzger¹,

Jackson

2022

CRL

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This research study investigates the behaviors, knowledge, and skills necessary for academic library outreach work. Through a review of published literature, job advertisements, and a survey of library practitioners conducted in the fall of 2020, the authors define and prioritize 18 competencies for outreach. Hiring managers, LIS instructors, and practitioners can use the results of this study to structure and lay out the essential areas of outreach work in academic libraries.

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Reaching Out to the Underserved: More Than Thirty Years of Outreach Job Ads

Cited by 26 publications

References 8 publications

Outreach initiatives in academic libraries, 2009‐2011

Outreach initiatives in academic libraries, 2009‐2011

Succession Planning in Academic Libraries: A Reconsideration

Developing Competencies for Outreach Work in Academic Libraries

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