The Information Institution as a Workplace

Our Specialties

Communication & Soft Skills

Employers at information institutions are increasingly looking for individuals with the relational or “soft skills" to successfully perform professional roles and goals such as outreach, collaboration, and project management.  Research and practice in this area explores how these non-technical, interpersonal abilities are conceived, developed, measured, and promoted.

Faculty Expert

Dr. Miriam Matteson

Selected Publications

• Matteson, M. L., McShane, M., & Hankinson, E. (2019). Soft skills revealed: An examination of relational skills in librarianship. ACRL 2019 Proceedings, American Library Association, March 12, 2019. http://www.ala.org/acrl/conferences/acrl2019/papers

Emotional Labor

Emotional labor is the requirement to express or suppress specific emotions in order to be successful at your job.

Faculty Expert

Dr. Miriam Matteson 

Selected Publications

• Matteson, M. L. (2017). A primer on emotions in the workplace. In S. S. Hines & M. L. Matteson (Eds.), Emotions in the library workplace, (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Vol. 37) (pp. 1-14). Emerald.
• Matteson, M. L. (2017). Afterword. In S. S. Hines & M. L. Matteson (Eds.), Emotions in the library workplace, (Advances in Library Administration and Organization, Vol. 37) (pp. 231-236). Emerald.
• Matteson, M. L., Chittock, S., Mease, D. B. (2015). In their own words: Stories of emotional labor from the library workforce. Library Quarterly, 85(1), 85-105. https://doi.org/10.1086/679027
• Matteson, M. L. & Miller, S. S. (2014). What library managers should know about emotional labor. Public Library Quarterly, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2014.910720
• Matteson, M. L., & Miller, S. S. (2013). A study of emotional labor in librarianship. Library and Information Science Research, 35(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2012.07.005

Management

Faculty Expert

Dr. Miriam MattesonMary Anne Nichols

Selected Publications

• Matteson, M. L., & Hankinson, E. (2018). Getting off on the right foot: Psychological contracts, socialization theory and library student workers. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 44(4), 486-492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2018.05.001
• Matteson, M. L., & Kennedy, S. (2016). The relationship between trait affect and job attitudes in library employees. Journal of Library Administration, 56(7), 810-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2016.1179493
• Matteson, M. L., Musser, S., & Allen, E. (2015). From good to great managers: The case for a structured continuing education program in library management. Library Management, 36(1/2). https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-05-2014-0058

Marketing

Faculty Expert

Mary Anne Nichols  

Selected Publications

• Nichols, M.A. (2002). Merchandising library materials to young adults. Libraries Unlimited.