Library and Information Studies @ FIX University

LIS 545 - Management of Human Resources

Course Outline 

Winter  

Calendar Description:

The field of human resource management and its application in library and information services.

Objectives:

At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Determine how to provide effective leadership to the most important resource in any library and information centre - the staff;
• Identify the various principles and practices of human resource management applicable to library and information centres;
• Identify strategies to lead within unionized environments; 
• Understand the concept of Situational Leadership as it relates to human resource management in libraries and information centres; 
• Understand their own strengths as they develop self-knowledge about their potential to be effective library leaders. 

Content:

Differences between personal and position power, management and leadership.
Conflict resolution, interventions and dealing with "problem" employees.
Identification of various leadership styles and their effectiveness in human resource management.
Key competencies for effective leadership, self-assessment, and planning for self-development.

Methods:

Lectures, guest lecturers, case studies, readings, class discussions and papers.

Course Relationships:

Pre-requisites: LIS 501 and LIS 504

Assignments and Evaluation:

Resume/Covering Letter	25%
Case Study	30%
Summary Report	35%
Class Participation	10%

Assignments and Evaluation

Interview Process/Role Play

Students will select an actual job ad for a Librarian position and prepare a résumé and covering letter in response. Mock interviews will be presented and students will constructively criticize the "performances" of both the interviewers and the Interviewees.

• Management Case Study

  Teams of three students each will receive a unique case study that they will interpret, analyze, present solutions and discuss with the class. (A methodology to follow will be provided by the Instructor). In addition to learning from the contents of the case, decision-making skills will be developed by students.
  
  Each presentation should be approximately 20-25 minutes in length, including class discussion. A 3-5 page paper will be submitted outlining the approach taken by the team with reasons to support that approach. 
  Due Date:
  • Presentations and Paper - March 12th, March 19th
  Value:   30%
   Class Schedule – 2012
  January 9^th        
  IntroductionCourse Outline and AssignmentsTheories of Leadership
  January 16^th      
  Power (Personal and Position)Situational Leadership ModelMaturity Levels
  January 23^rd      
  Case StudiesInterview TechniquesCovering Letters and Resumes
  January 30^th      
  Leadership and ManagementLeadership StylesIntervention       Win/Lose
  February 6^th      
  SupervisionPerformance Appraisal                             
  February 13^th    
  Interviews
  February 20^th    
  Reading Week – No Classes
  February 27^th    
  Interviews
  March 5^th            
  The Importance of Unions – Management and Union  PerspectivesGuest Speakers:  David Climenhaga, Communications Director - Associated Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE)Pilar Martinez, Executive Director - Public Services, Edmonton Public Library
  March 12^th          
  Case Study Presentations
  March 19^th          
  Case Study Presentations 
  March 26^th             
  ^"Problem Employees”Conflict ResolutionGuest Speaker – Margaret Law, International Relations, Libraries, University of Alberta
  April 2^nd              
  Leadership Summary Presentations
  April 9^th                    
  Leadership Development – Personal Action PlansWrap-Up
  
  
  
  

  Readings and Resources

  No required text. 

  Bibliography:

  Charney, Cy. The Leader’s Tool Kit. New York: American Management Association, 2006.
  
  Coleman, Daniel, et al. HBR’s Must Reads on Leadership. Boston: Harvard Business Review, 2010.
  
  Deane, Gary. “Lasting Lessons in Leadership.” Public Libraries (May-June 2005) 163-168.
  
  Evans, G. Edward. Leadership Basics for Librarians and Information Professionals. Chicago: ALA, 2007.
  
  Giesecke, Joan, and Beth McNeil. Fundamentals of Library Supervision. Chicago: ALA, 2010.
  
  Haycock, Ken. “Exemplary Public Library Branch Managers: Their Characteristics and Effectiveness.” Library Management (Vol. 32, No. 4/5, 2011) 266-278.
  
  Hentschel, Tiffany. “Growing Our Own Leaders.” Public Libraries (September/October 2008) 14-16.
  
  Hicks, Deborah. “Negotiating Employer—Employee Relationships for New Professionals.” Feliciter (Vol. 54, No.5, 2008) 207-209.
  
  McGrorty, Michael. “A Hard Day at the Job Search.” Library Journal (August 2005) 53.
  
  Maynard, Clara. “Leadership Needed.” Library Journal (134: 2009) 52-53.
  
  Montgomery, Jack G. and Eleanor I. Cook. Conflict Management for Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.
  
  Niceley, Donna and Beth Dempsey. “Building a Culture of Leadership.” Public Libraries (September/October 2005) 297-300.
  
  Nixon, Judith. “Growing Your Own Leaders: Succession Planning in Libraries.” Journal of Business and Finance Librarianship (13: 2008) 246-260.
  
  Patterson, Kerry, et al. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. New York: McGraw Hill, 2002.
  
  Reed, Lori and Paul Signorelli. “Are You Following Me?” American Libraries (November 2008) 42-45.
  
  Sheldon, Brooke. Interpersonal Skills, Theory and Practice: The Librarian’s Guide to Becoming a Leader.California: Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
  
  Souba, Wiley W. “The Inward Journey of Leadership.” Journal of Surgical Research (131:2006) 159-167.
  
  Stueart, Robert D. Developing Library Leaders: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Coaching, Team Building, and Mentoring Library Staff. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2010.
  
  Thomas, Deb. “Better Salaries Makes Better Staff.” Feliciter (Vo. 54, No. 5, 2008) 210-212.
  
  Tunstall, Pat. “The Accidental Supervisor.” Public Libraries (May/June 2006) 50-57.
  
  Tunstall, Pat. Hiring, Training, and Supervising Library Shelvers. Chicago: American Library Association, 2009.
  
  Weiss, Emily. “Dining With the Director.” Library Journal (March 1, 2007) 32-34.