DEADLINE EXTENDED!
I am pleased to announce that I will be editing a new book titled Millennial Leadership in Libraries to be published by Hein. This book will provide insight into the changing face of leadership in libraries, from the perspectives of librarians from all generations. Submissions from librarians who are a part of the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X/Y, and Millennials are needed.Description of the Book
Librarianship, which is stereotypically thought of as a profession filled with old women in glasses, is now a field filled with young people, excited to take on the challenges of a changing information landscape. This new crop of librarians - the “millennials” - are not only joining the field, but quickly climbing the ranks within their institutions and taking on leadership roles or joining library administration. There is a need to understand this group now more than ever before. Often, if millennials don’t feel that they are going to see themselves in an institution or career long-term, due to lack of management or leadership within their institutions, they will find new opportunities without considering what the future could hold while still in the field of librarianship.
While there is an increasing amount of literature on millennial leadership, generally, there is very little literature on millennial leadership in libraries, specifically. As a group, millennials are excited to make changes in organizations that are often described as archaic, and which are often rumored to be near-extinction, but millennials are also a different type of employee. At the OCLC symposium titled “Millennials in Transition” at ALA, Kim Lear discussed many of the differences in working with this age group, including catering to unique schedules, acknowledging a stronger desire for work/life balance, and a difference in communication styles. There is room in the literature for a book that will cater to this group. As a millennial who is working in a leadership/managerial role, myself, I am uniquely aware of the challenges that have come my way due not only to my very recent entry into the profession, but also due to perceptions about my age and my millennial counterparts.
The book will contain three sections with chapters written from different points of view. The first section will include a view from the top, with chapters written by older directors or newly retired directors who are finding an increasing number of promising millennials in their libraries and have a unique perspective on how millennials, as a generation, differ from those who have come before them (this section will be primarily composed of chapters from librarians who are Baby Boomers or members of the Greatest Generation). The next section will be written by those in the Gen-X/Gen-Y generation who may be relatively new to director roles in libraries and who, again, have their own unique perspectives on millennials. The final section will be a series of chapters written by millennials, with a strong desire to lead the profession through the changes that are sure to come, and with new ideas about how to make that happen, while recognizing that we do expect a certain shift in workplace culture due to our age group.
Call for Submissions
I am seeking authors for each of these sections, and from each of the following generational groups:
· The Greatest Generation
· Baby Boomers
· Gen X/Y
· Millennials
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Chapters on any and all topics will be considered, with the above description of the book in mind.
Proposal Submissions Due: February 5, 2016
Notification of Accepted Submissions: February 22, 2016
Final Submissions Due: June 17, 2016
Publication Date: Early 2017
To be considered, please submit your name, brief biography, previous scholarship, and a 250 word or less abstract of your proposed contribution via this short form. Please submit one form for each abstract you are proposing. Co-authors should submit one form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the editor.
