Throughout libraries, but in acquisitions and technical services especially, focus is often placed on production and efficiency. Focus on task-oriented work shapes the way we design, implement, and assess our daily work and our projects. However, both common sense and literature across disciplines suggest that attention to the affective aspects of our work – sometimes characterized as “soft skills” – has a huge impact whether our work is successful. In an era where acquisitions and collections librarians are tasked with taking on tough and emotional projects – collections reviews, journal cancellations, course affordability, and more – ability to effectively plan for and address affective aspects of our work is more important than ever. In this session the presenters will provide an overview of “soft skills” and their importance in library work both as a supervisor and as a project manager. We will then discuss how to support skills development at the individual and unit level. Finally, we will outline strategies for prioritizing attention to soft skills in the daily work of the unit as well as in project-based work. Attendees will leave the session with a better understanding of the affective aspects of library work, tools to strengthen skills, and ideas for developing more successful projects and more fulfilled employees.
