Academic Libraries and Toxic Leadership examines a phenomenon that has yet to be seriously explored. While other so-called feminized professions, such as nursing, have been studied for their tendency to create toxic leadership environments, thus far academic librarianship has not. This book focuses on how to identify a toxic leader in an academic library setting, how to address toxic leadership, and how to work toward eradicating it from the organization. In addition, it discusses which steps can be used to prevent libraries from hiring toxic leaders. - Presents original research based on a two-phase study about toxic leadership in academic libraries - Demonstrates how to identify toxic leadership in libraries - Shows how toxic leadership can manifest itself, providing the reader with steps to eradicate it

Organizational Transformation in Academic Libraries: Discourse, Process, Product helps inform discussions in academic libraries on organizational patterns and divisions of labor. The book gives librarians leverage to think outside traditional bureaucratic structures and re-think how libraries serve their patrons. It examines existing structures and proposes new organizational models and lays out a process for planning organizational transformation and implementing a new organization. Seven chapters offer a radical vision of library transformation, proposing a collaborative process for changing academic libraries into organizations fit for the second quarter of the twenty-first century and beyond. Academic libraries are changing in the face of information technologies, economic pressures and globally disruptive events such as the current pandemic. As a result, practical solutions for transforming organizational and workflow structures for the future are desperately needed. The title analyzes existing organizational structures and proposes new ones that can be adapted to individual libraries. It discusses the challenges posed by virtual learning environments, digital initiatives and resources, changes to cataloging standards and succession planning, as well as changes brought about by the current pandemic. - Presents a clear analysis of organizational patterns and divisions of labor in the future of the academic library - Gives specific organizational models and presents a process for planning and implementing organizational transformation - Advocates for, and supports the radical transformation of, library organization and workflow structures - Proposes a collaborative process for transforming academic libraries into future-ready organizations - Considers current challenges and aims to support the design of new organizations ready for the second quarter of the 21st century and beyond

Libraries as Dysfunctional Organizations and Workplaces expands the "dysfunctional" concept in the professional and academic LIS discourse by exposing the internal problematics of libraries, especially at the social and organizational levels. Including contributions written by LIS professionals and scholars, the book demonstrates that although many libraries do well at attending to users and managing external information they often fail at taking care of their own employees and addressing internal workplace issues. Acadia and the contributing authors explore the problem of dysfunctional libraries so that the LIS profession can come to terms with the systemic dysfunction in their institutions and begin solution-oriented progress toward new and sustainable functionality. The book analyzes the dysfunctional nature of modern libraries, while simultaneously proposing solutions to reduce and alleviate dysfunction. Through theory and application, it takes an explicit practice-based approach with the intent to inform and explain dysfunction as experienced in the library workplace at individual and structural levels and perspectives. Libraries as Dysfunctional Organizations and Workplaces brings the dysfunction discourse to the attention of LIS academics and scholars so that further theoretical and empirical research can proceed from and subsequently be addressed in library and information schools. The book will also be essential reading for librarians and LIS students currently working or preparing to work in public, college, and university libraries.

Frankly, it’s not something we like to talk about. There is an unfortunate stigma to acknowledging workplace dysfunction, let alone trying to grapple with the problem. But negative behaviors such as incivility, toxicity, deviant behavior, workplace politics, and team and leadership dysfunction not only make the library a stressful workplace, they also run counter to the core values of librarianship. An important tool for library leaders and managers as well as library staff, this book examines these negative relationship-based issues and suggests practical, research-based solutions by discussing the importance of understanding oneself as related to the library workplace;identifying attributes specific to libraries that foster personal success;showing how organizational dysfunction is rooted in problems such as poor communication, inadequate leadership, and lack of employee engagement;breaking down relatable scenarios to analyze what’s behind them and how to defuse them, ranging from a gossipy coworker who fails to contribute to the organization to workplace bullying and mobbing;exploring causes, results, and potential solutions in the areas of cyberloafing, fraud, theft, and sabotage;delving into the importance of conflict management, surveying a variety of approaches and applications;examining the use of teams in libraries and the impact of favoritism, nepotism, and sexism; andproviding techniques for successful collaboration, leadership, organizational communication, and other key management topics. By tackling the dysfunctional library head on, managers as well as library workers who find themselves in a toxic situation will be poised to better meet library goals and move the library forward.

The Dark Side of Organizational Behavior aims to gather all the micro- and meso-level topics about the dark side of organizations that may guide management practitioners, researchers, and students. The history before the modern human civilization is full of multiple types of conflicts, wars, struggles and violence. Modernization project has constructed a desired reality of human being and has somehow concealed the dark side of human interactions. Through this outlook, this book explores the realities of the dark side of organizations and how these realities may have the potential to change previous assumptions about business life. The field of organizational behavior is dominated by the positive aspects of the business life, but conflict, war, struggle, and violence have always been a part of history. It is not possible to isolate organizational participants from negative emotions like hostility, dislike, hate, jealousy, rage and revenge. A manager may devote most of their time to cope with conflicts, deviant behaviors, ambitious individuals, gossips and dysfunctional rivalry among employees. It is evident that negative events and interactions among employees cost more time and energy for a manager than the positive side of organizational life. Therefore, exploring the realities of the dark side of organizations may have the potential to change previous assumptions about business life. This book will be of interest to researchers, academics, practitioners, and advanced students in the fields of organizational studies and behavior, human resource management, employment relations, and organizational psychology.

In Managing Health Sciences Libraries in a Time of Change, experienced leaders of the medical library community present insights into the current trends and issues faced by health sciences librarians and offer practical guidelines and management skills needed to create a culture of excellence. The Medical Library Association points out that “Management skills and a leader’s abilities affect the culture and performance of coworkers and the effectiveness of an institution.” The last decades have resulted in a sea change for health sciences library leadership and management. In a short period of time, medical libraries have transformed from collections of print books and journals to databases of digital resources accessible from any desktop. Library services no longer must be provided face to face, but the need for virtual library services has grown in complexity and now demands a greater knowledge of technology and informatics. Reference service, instruction, cataloging, and collection development all remain as key library tasks, but they have been transformed in this digital environment. This book explores what it means to be a manager of health sciences libraries today. Chapters focus on current trends in health science library leadership; managing change; staffing issues; managing for diversity, equity, and inclusion; mentoring; accreditation and evaluation; leadership skills, and a discussion of the differences between the concepts of leadership and management.

In recent years, there has been an increased urgency and appeal to examine the impacts of systemic racism in all parts of society, and the field of library and information science is no exception. To actively combat enabling and perpetuating structural racism and white supremacy, libraries across the globe are addressing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) by investing resources, creating initiatives, and engaging in reflection and deep questioning. Perspectives on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Libraries examines how JEDI initiatives and actions have been incorporated into all aspects of librarianship and various types of libraries. The book serves as a collection of exemplary cases across all settings of librarianship to showcase how this work is being implemented and to provide commentary on implications and future opportunities for growth. Covering key topics such as community, ethics, and inclusive spaces, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, policymakers, academicians, researchers, scholars, practitioners, librarians, instructors, and students.

This book provides an overview of leadership in library and information science (LIS), examines the findings of doctoral students in the Simmons program in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions, and advocates research in LIS. Library and information science researchers can provide valuable insights about leadership and management, thereby adding a significant amount of practical information to the foundation of knowledge for LIS professionals and educators. Accordingly, it behooves both internal and external LIS practitioners to investigate and apply these research findings. Utilizing the available evidence wisely will better connect libraries to an organizational culture of assessment and evaluation, enabling improved service despite reduced funding after the recent economic downturn. This book conveys the rich study findings about leadership in the profession based on case studies and scenario plans written by doctoral students in the Simmons program in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions, and takes the lessons from this research to advocate further research in library and information science (LIS). Shaping the Future: Advancing the Understanding of Leadership provides an overview of leadership in LIS, highlighting the research done, the areas for discussion, and the potential for further study. Examples of case studies and scenario planning—applicable to both academic and public libraries—are provided.

Leadership in Academic Libraries highlights model examples of the move from leadership theory into actual practice. A consideration of leadership theories provides a working vocabulary to facilitate discussions of abstract concepts, while specific topical investigations and case studies illustrate those concepts and show the manner in which theories play out in practice. Chapter authors speak from experience as well as theoretical grounding, and include practitioners, researchers, and formal and informal leaders. Topics include transformational leadership across generations; developing a research agenda in library leadership; methodologies for studying library leadership; connections between leadership models and library-focused research; engaging with business, psychology, and educational administration literature; leadership styles; organizational culture; the role of mentoring in leadership; and the role of women in academic library leadership. Two chapters highlight the dichotomy between positional leadership and socially constructed leadership roles. The research methods used include case study, survey, and action research. Extensive bibliographies for each chapter provide a solid foundation for further research.