The role of professional protocols: Recruitment, retention, and service

The cultivation of professionalism is a necessary part of training the academic and research library leaders of the future. By incorporating professionalism into succession planning efforts, individuals acquire skills that will serve them across institutions as they transition between positions of power. For the purposes of this study, the aspects of professionalism were divided into four main categories: etiquette, professional behavior, personal presentation, and space (how people fill and use it). This chapter examines existing literature and contains the results of a survey of how library employees feel about professional protocols. It argues that the observance of professional protocols can impact student satisfaction as well as create a more positive work environment. Results of the survey indicate that libraries value professionalism with an emphasis on professional behavior.