Department of Organizational Behaviour, Human Resources Management and Management
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Browsing Department of Organizational Behaviour, Human Resources Management and Management by Author "Erickson, Norene"
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Item The emotional labour of public library work(2021) Rodger, Joanne; Erickson, NoreneThis study seeks to extend the research on the emotional labour of public library workers. Because emotional labour is a relatively new concept in library and information science research, researchers and practitioners need to better understand the emotional labour experiences of front-line workers in public libraries. A qualitative survey was distributed electronically to library workers in one Canadian province. Participants described meaningful experiences connecting with customers, but they also identified major challenges in performing customer service work. Results showed that the public-facing display of regulated emotions that is ingrained in library customer service training often conflicts with inner emotions. The inability to reconcile opposing emotions and perceived limited administrative support affect individuals’ enjoyment of work and their personal well-being. Participants reported exhaustion and burnout as outcomes of emotional labour. Library organizations must acknowledge the emotional labour aspect of library customer service work and provide more extensive formalized support for staff who are in customer service roles. Equipping staff with stronger emotional labour strategies could also help to build resilience and increase job satisfaction.Item I may not be a librarian, but I’m running the school library: understanding the work identity of library paraprofessionals(2019) Erickson, NoreneWork identity is defined as ones’ sense of purpose, value and belonging in the workplace (Saayman & Crafford, 2011). It is a useful construct in which to investigate how identities are influenced and developed through personal characteristics, relationships, and work activities. This study sought to understand the ways in which school library paraprofessionals’ work identities are formed. Seven library paraprofessionals in Alberta, Canada were interviewed as to their experiences working in a school library. It was discovered that, despite experiencing some misconceptions about their ability, sometimes feeling disconnected with others in the school and lacking a voice to direct their own work, these paraprofessionals experienced a sense of purpose, value and belonging at work. This study demonstrates that even if library paraprofessionals are not qualified Teacher- Librarians, they still are deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of young students.Item Paraprofessional library education in Canada: an environmental scan(2017) Erickson, Norene; Shamchuk, LisaGet an overview of the development, current state, and potential future trends of paraprofessional library education in Canada. During this session, we’ll present an environmental scan of the current English-speaking, diploma programs available in Canada that train library technicians. We will investigate topic coverage of library diploma curricula to identify patterns and relationships among the paraprofessional education programs, and examine any evidence of a shift in educational outcomes for these traditionally vocational-focused programs.Item Rebooting the guidelines for the education of library technicians(2023) Erickson, Norene; Shamchuk, LisaThe Canadian Federation of Library Association’s (CFLA-FCAB) Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians were last updated in 2011 and in need of a reboot. These guidelines have helped to establish a national standard for the education of library technicians in Canada and provided a framework for the development of skills, knowledge, and abilities of library technicians to provide job-ready, and highly skilled graduates. As much has changed in the library and information landscape in recent years, we instigated a substantial update to the Guidelines in 2021. The update was completed and approved by the CFLA-FCAB in July 2022 and is a guide for library educators, library administrators, supervisors, and practitioners. This paper details the research process undertaken to update the Guidelines that reflect the core competencies of library technicians in Canada.Item Updating the CFLA-FCAB guidelines for the education of library technicians(2023) Erickson, Norene; Shamchuk, LisaCFLA-FCAB has established these guidelines in order to describe library technician programs of high quality that maintain currency and competitiveness amid rapid technological advancements and social changes. The guidelines are intended to serve as a national standard for educational institutions in Canada and for employers to note the competencies of library technician program graduates.