VLA-College and Research Libraries Chapter (VLACRL) 

VLACRL Officers 2022-23

Past Chair: Stephanie Hardy, Southern Virginia University, [email protected]
Chair: Christine Woods, Saint Leo University, [email protected]
Co-Chair: Jennifer Stout, Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer: Robert Pillow, Virginia Tech,  [email protected]

Chapter Information

Purpose: To provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas to promote service to the academic community.
Objectives:

1. To provide continuing education annually for interested library personnel.
2. To serve as the Virginia chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

See a list of the previous programs that the VLACRL has planned in the past by visiting our Continuing Education Archive. Are you interested in suggesting a program for us to plan? E-mail any member of the Executive Board. 

VLA (ACRL) Spring Program 

Occupational Stress in Academic Libraries

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

10:00 AM EST

Zoom Registration Link

In 2018, University of Arkansas librarians, Laura Cameron and Stephanie Pierce, surveyed U.S.-based tenure-track librarians regarding institutional supports and occupational stress. Their research, published in the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science in 2020, showed that the lack of support experienced by participants at work contributed more to occupational stress than other factors studied. Join us for this presentation where Cameron and Pierce review their work quantitatively measuring tenure-track librarians’ occupational stress levels and corresponding levels of workplace confidence. The presenters will also update attendees on the state of research in the area of mental health and stress in academic libraries research since their work first began, expanding their focus and discussion beyond tenure-track librarians to librarianship at large. Both tenure-track and non-tenure-track librarians alike will benefit from the information provided and will leave with a greater understanding of stress factors impacting their daily professional lives as well as suggested methods to reduce their own occupational stress and advocate for supports.

Presented by 

Laura Cameron is the Academic Services Librarian at Oesterle Library, North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, in the west suburbs of Chicago. She manages the library’s information literacy instruction program, developing and delivering dynamic and forward-thinking classroom content. Her research interests include academic library support of teacher preparation programs and mental health in a library context.

Stephanie Pierce is an Assistant Professor/Librarian and the Director of User Services & Physics Library at University Libraries, University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. She oversees operations for the Physics Library as well as the largest public services unit at the Libraries’ main branch, Mullins Library. Her research interests include leadership and management, mental health in libraries, library spaces, and whole person-centered librarianship.

ACRL 2023 Conference Registration Now Open

Virtual option available!

Partner Organizations

VASCIG