Call for Proposals

Advances in Library Administration and Organization (ALAO)
Volume 46: Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work Environments

Series Editor: David Ketchum, University of Oregon
Volume Co-Editor: Kim Duckett, North Carolina State University
Volume Co-Editor: Nancy Falciani-White, Randolph-Macon College 

Positive and healthy work environments enhance job satisfaction and workplace engagement and play a significant role in the healthy functioning of library organizations. Higher levels of workplace satisfaction and engagement are also attributed to increased productivity, creativity, and performance, and by extension improved services and organizational culture. But how do we define, cultivate, and sustain positive and healthy work environments, particularly in libraries which can be under-resourced, unappreciated or devalued, or even toxic?    

ALAO seeks chapter submissions for a volume entitled Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work Environments. This volume will examine the opportunities, challenges, and successes of fostering and nurturing workplace environments that enhance job satisfaction, engagement, and success. Proposals that emphasize research-based projects will be prioritized and submissions in the following areas are of particular interest, as they relate to building and sustaining positive work environments:

• Strategic organizational change

• Enhancing physical workspace

• Service transformation

• Employee development and/or succession planning

• Successful leadership practices

• Flexible and hybrid work arrangements 

• Fostering inclusivity

• Benefits and advocacy 

ALAO publishes long-form research and content, theoretical and philosophical discussions, and in-depth accounts of practice related to library administration and organization. The series helps answer the questions, “How have libraries been managed and how could they be managed better?” Through this series, readers explore library-related challenges and solutions and glean new approaches to library administration and organization. 

How to Submit

We are currently seeking proposals for the 2026 volume, Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work Environments. If you are interested in contributing to this volume, please complete this form – including a brief author bio and chapter proposal – no later than April 1, 2025, https://forms.gle/MgAYY47R1GNAPD827. Chapters with multiple authors are welcome! Contact David Ketchum at dketchum@uoregon.edu if you have any questions. 

Timeline

• Proposal deadline: 4/1/2025

• Notification of acceptance: 5/15/2025

• Submission deadline, full chapters: 8/15/2025

• Editorial response to authors: 10/1/2025

• Submission deadline, revised chapters: 11/15/2025

• Print publication: July 2026

Call for ProposalsAdvances in Library Administration and Organization (ALAO)Volume 46: Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work EnvironmentsSeries Editor: David Ketchum, University of OregonVolume Co-Editor: Kim Duckett, North Carolina State UniversityVolume Co-Editor: Nancy Falciani-White, Randolph-Macon College Positive and healthy work environments enhance job satisfaction and workplace engagement and play a significant role in the healthy functioning of library organizations. Higher levels of workplace satisfaction and engagement are also attributed to increased productivity, creativity, and performance, and by extension improved services and organizational culture. But how do we define, cultivate, and sustain positive and healthy work environments, particularly in libraries which can be under-resourced, unappreciated or devalued, or even toxic?    ALAO seeks chapter submissions for a volume entitled Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work Environments. This volume will examine the opportunities, challenges, and successes of fostering and nurturing workplace environments that enhance job satisfaction, engagement, and success. Proposals that emphasize research-based projects will be prioritized and submissions in the following areas are of particular interest, as they relate to building and sustaining positive work environments:Strategic organizational changeEnhancing physical workspaceService transformationEmployee development and/or succession planningSuccessful leadership practicesFlexible and hybrid work arrangements Fostering inclusivityBenefits and advocacy ALAO publishes long-form research and content, theoretical and philosophical discussions, and in-depth accounts of practice related to library administration and organization. The series helps answer the questions, “How have libraries been managed and how could they be managed better?” Through this series, readers explore library-related challenges and solutions and glean new approaches to library administration and organization. How to SubmitWe are currently seeking proposals for the 2026 volume, Building and Sustaining Positive and Healthy Work Environments. If you are interested in contributing to this volume, please complete this form – including a brief author bio and chapter proposal – no later than April 1, 2025, https://forms.gle/MgAYY47R1GNAPD827. Chapters with multiple authors are welcome! Contact David Ketchum at dketchum@uoregon.edu if you have any questions. TimelineProposal deadline: 4/1/2025Notification of acceptance: 5/15/2025Submission deadline, full chapters: 8/15/2025Editorial response to authors: 10/1/2025Submission deadline, revised chapters: 11/15/2025Print publication: July 2026 Read More

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