Reflections on Onboarding in Libraries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that over the next decade, there will be 15,200 library job openings annually (2022) due to “workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.” If our profession hopes to recruit and retain diverse employees, it should consider onboarding practices. Onboarding can set a standard and expectations for work environments that are equitable and inclusive.
We use autoethnograpic methods to ground a discussion of our onboarding experiences to reflect on current practices. Attendees will learn about definitions of onboarding, current practices, and hear recommendations for improved onboarding experiences.
Speakers
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Amanda McLeodSocial Sciences & Government Information Librarian, Clemson UniversityShe/Her/Hers
Amanda McLeod is the Social Sciences and Government Information Librarian at Clemson University in R.M. Cooper Library. She received her MSIS from the University of Texas at Austin and BA in Psychology from Winthrop University. Her research interests include collaborative approaches to librarianship and morale and job satisfaction in library workers, particularly the impact of onboarding practices on retention. -
DeAnn BrameTechnology and Innovation Strategist, Network of the National Library of Medicine/Medical University of South CarolinaShe/Her
DeAnn brainstorms, plans, and executes creative and innovative solutions to problems. She strives to make complex problems simple and digestible. She is currently the Technology and Innovation Strategist for Region 2 of the Network of the National Library of Medicine based at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a 2022–2023 ARL Leadership and Career Development Fellow. Previously, DeAnn was assistant professor and the Digital Services and Systems Librarian for Winthrop University, where she managed the university’s institutional repository, and provided leadership and vision for the library’s technologies. DeAnn hold an MLS from North Carolina Central University and recently received her MBA, with a focus in strategic leadership, from Winthrop University. -
V. Emily Cranwell DeinertHumanities and Social Sciences Librarian, University of MarylandShe/Her
V. Emily Cranwell Deinert is a Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her joint MA/MLIS from the University of South Carolina in 2017 and has worked in archives and libraries since. Her research interests include the intersection between the history of the book and women’s history, as well as the experiences of early career librarians.