What Makes a Successful Succession Plan? Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer [email_address]

Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer

[email_address]

Introduction: Academic preparation is general. First couple of years can be difficult for librarians. Librarian’s expectations might not match realities of day-to-day work or mesh with site’s existing values and norms. Successor planning is needed.

Academic preparation is general.

First couple of years can be difficult for librarians.

Librarian’s expectations might not match realities of day-to-day work or mesh with site’s existing values and norms.

Successor planning is needed.

Supporting Theories: Competency Theory: skill acquisition, reflectivity, attribution theory, self-theories, self-efficacy Change Theory: adult development, operant conditioning, feelings of loss/role development, Concerns-Based Adoption Model Contingency Theory of Socialization: workplace learning, work role transition, stress factors, socialization, mentors

Competency Theory: skill acquisition, reflectivity, attribution theory, self-theories, self-efficacy

Change Theory: adult development, operant conditioning, feelings of loss/role development, Concerns-Based Adoption Model

Contingency Theory of Socialization: workplace learning, work role transition, stress factors, socialization, mentors

Findings: Reasons for Leaving feeling of isolation More comfortable with prior job feeling of lack of control and self-determination because of other people’s demands on library services unrealistic job expectations, either because of heightened expectations raised in pre-service academic preparation or because of supervisor’s determination

feeling of isolation

More comfortable with prior job

feeling of lack of control and self-determination because of other people’s demands on library services

unrealistic job expectations, either because of heightened expectations raised in pre-service academic preparation or because of supervisor’s determination

Disposition Predictors for Success Extroverted or service-oriented Self-confident risk-takers or at least open-minded Life-long learners Flexible Good communicators and collaborators Value intellectual challenge and autonomy Like reading and research processes While having these pre-existing dispositions can facilitate beginning librarian experiences, some behaviors (e.g., independent learning skills, communication, collaboration) can be taught in pre-service programs.

Extroverted or service-oriented

Self-confident risk-takers or at least open-minded

Life-long learners

Flexible

Good communicators and collaborators

Value intellectual challenge and autonomy

Like reading and research processes

While having these pre-existing dispositions can facilitate beginning librarian experiences, some behaviors (e.g., independent learning skills, communication, collaboration) can be taught in pre-service programs.

Recommendations for Site Administrators Clarify job expectations, including budget issues Be sensitive to first-year workload Publicly recognize librarian’s efforts beyond identified job descriptions Make sure that all librarians, regardless of their tenure, have opportunities to network, to voice their needs, and to contribute to site’s mission based on their abilities

Clarify job expectations, including budget issues

Be sensitive to first-year workload

Publicly recognize librarian’s efforts beyond identified job descriptions

Make sure that all librarians, regardless of their tenure, have opportunities to network, to voice their needs, and to contribute to site’s mission based on their abilities

Professional Development Recommendations Provide professional development opportunities for new functions such as technology expert Early professional development should have close transfer of learning Provide function-expert mentors and opportunities to see librarianship best practice Focus on social connections in second year Foster a learning community; recognize collaborative planning / implementation

Provide professional development opportunities for new functions such as technology expert

Early professional development should have close transfer of learning

Provide function-expert mentors and opportunities to see librarianship best practice

Focus on social connections in second year

Foster a learning community; recognize collaborative planning / implementation