Call for chapters: "Difficult Decisions: Closing and Merging Academic Libraries " - Proposals sought for an ACRL publication on merging academic libraries
Proposal Submission Deadline: February 24th, 2014
Editors: Sara Holder (McGill University), Amber Lannon (McGill University) Publisher: Association of College & Research Libraries
With the decline in circulation of print materials, new service models, cuts to library budgets, decreasing demand for in-person reference service, as well as the increasing interdisciplinary nature of academic research – research Libraries across North America are merging and consolidating library branches. Changes such as these are complex, as are the decision-making processes that bring them about. There
are also myriad stakeholder groups affected, all of whom require individualized attention, consideration, and response. This publication aims to explore all of these aspects through commentary, research, and case studies written both by librarians with experience merging libraries and those conducting original research on some aspect of academic library consolidation.
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to the following:
• Case studies focusing on a particular aspect of a merger or on the full experience
• Communication and consultation with stakeholders in all phases (decision making, project phase, post-merger)
• Managing collection mergers, de-selection projects, storage
• Reorganizing and merging staff (including handling lay-offs and reassignments)
• Leadership in the consultation phase and post-merged library
• New service models (as a contributing factor to and/or a result of consolidation)
• Changes in academia and/or scholarship as influences
Proposals should include author name(s), institutional affiliation, proposed chapter title, 2-page summary of proposed chapter and a current CV. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 24th, 2014. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 16th, 2014. Chapters should be unique to this publication – no previously published or simultaneously submitted materials should be included.
All inquiries and proposals should be emailed by February 24th, 2014 to Amber Lannon (amber.lannon@mcgill.ca) and Sara Holder (sara.holder@mcgill.ca).
