Best of Core Forum: Reflections on Onboarding in Academic 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.

This webinar was previously presented in-person as a session at the 2022 Core Forum. We are hosting this webinar, with the session adapted and presented live as a virtual event, to extend its reach.

Learning Outcomes: 

At the end of this webinar, attendees will:

Who Should Attend: Anyone who works in a library--onboarding practices are relevant to any employee, regardless of position. Managers and directors can reflect on their onboarding practices and on improving them; non-manager employees can advocate for better onboarding.

Presenters:

Emily Cranwell Deinert is a Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Maryland.

DeAnn Brame is a Technology and Innovation Strategist for the Network to the National Library of Medicine for Region 2 at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Amanda McLeod is the Social Sciences and Government Information Librarian at Clemson University.

Tech Requirements