So You Think You Won’t Be A Supervisor?

Abstract

Collaboration between faculty, faculty practitioners, and practitioners enhances teaching and research opportunities, provides more hands-on learning opportunities, and improves the knowledge and experience of all of those involved. Students benefit from learning about real world scenarios to couple with theoretical knowledge. Such experience improves student outcomes and informs their professionalism. Practitioners bring value added to the department with real-time information on new practices, trends, and solutions. Administrations recognize this value added and are striving to foster more inclusivity. Collaboration builds more resiliency into LIS programs and encourages the development of new leaders in our classrooms.

Most LIS programs include a management course and usually required.  Anecdotally many students react to the course with a distain or non-preference for supervisory work and self-identify as not expecting to move into management or supervision. Many course designs include an assignment meant to have students interact with practicing library supervisors or managers in order to learn through that lens.

This panel will encourage participants to think critically about the role of practitioners in LIS education, with a particular emphasis on preparing students for future roles in administration. Practitioners, whether as adjunct faculty, guest speakers, or full-time lecturers, bring greater emphasis to the lived experiences of the field to the classroom. This blend of current research with current experience offers a more holistic program to the student. Both administrators and accrediting agencies recognize the depth this blend brings to departments as evidenced by shifting attitudes and the development of greater support.

This panel will discuss:

• Resilience and leadership in action
• The concept of capacity and the impact on leadership effectiveness
• Discussion of data collected from current practitioners through interviews conducted by current LIS students under the guidance of practitioner educators
• Exploration of resilience and leadership in library administrations during the challenges of COVID (2020-2022)