Workforce and Succession Planning in the Libraries of the Australian Technology Network: Preparing for Demographic Change

The looming demographic crisis in all areas of the workforce has special implications for academic libraries and the universities in which they operate. The Librarians of the Australian Technology Network are concerned about their ageing workforce, the need for staff to reflect the diversity of the student populations and finding ways to ensure that all levels of staff are able to adapt to needed changes in library resources and service delivery. To consider how they can best prepare their workforce and be competitive in the hiring market, they are working at an individual and group level to develop workforce and succession plans. All ATN libraries have activities in place that further workforce and succession planning. However, none of the libraries yet has plans that demonstrate to its university and its staff that it is committed to developing a pool of well trained adaptable staff, professionals, and managers who see learning mobility and change as key to their careers and their professional development.