Adjusting to the Workplace: Transitions Faced by New Academic Librarians

Abstract

This article discusses the experiences of new academic librarians as they adjust to the workplace. In the process of organizational socialization, new employees face surprises and differences from their pre-existing expectations about the job. A survey of new librarians at Canadian university libraries was done to discover what these surprises were so that more effective training and orientation programs can be developed. Findings included several areas of high and low pre-existing knowledge and difference from expectation, including job skills and organizational culture. Implications for developing training programs are discussed.