Succession Planning in Canadian Academic Libraries

Succession Planning in Canadian Academic Libraries explores the current Canadian academic library environment, and the need for succession planning in that environment. The literature review demonstrates the lack of reported succession planning activities in Canadian academic libraries. Site visits and in-depth interviews with professional librarians at six libraries across Canada highlight best practices and barriers to succession planning. These best practices and barriers are addressed in individual chapters, with tips and strategies for library leaders.

Focuses on the Canadian academic libraryIncludes a comprehensive literature review on succession planning in academic librariesProvides evidence-based approach to why succession planning is or is not happening in Canadian academic libraries

• Chapter 1: Introduction

Thesis

The Canadian academic library landscape

Canadian Association of Research Libraries

What is succession planning?

The changing role of the academic librarian

• Chapter 2: Literature Review

Corporate succession planning

Library succession planning

Elements of succession planning

Summary

• Chapter 3: Methodology

Part one: online survey

Part two: on-site interviews

Appendix

• Chapter 4: Themes

The participants

The libraries

The themes

Summary

• Chapter 5: Best Practices

Preliminary planning

Identifying participants and conducting the talent review

Implementation, training, and feedback

Summary

• Chapter 6: Barriers

Budget

Transparency and fairness

Organizational structure as a barrier

Knowledge transfer

Changing roles of librarians/archivists/libraries

Summary

• Chapter 7: Implications

Preliminary planning

Identifying participants and conducting the talent review

Implementation, training, and feedback

The end and the beginning

Conclusion

Appendix

Index