When faced with difficult decisions, how do academic library decision makers, at any level of positional authority, make choices that satisfy the values of their profession, their institution, and themselves? How do you decide which values to privilege when priorities compete or even conflict? How can you ensure decisions are thoughtful and rooted in core values, rather than reflective only of the most immediate conditions and priorities?
 
Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library explores the decision-making process of librarians in both formal and informal leadership roles. Rather than trying to identify a singular “correct” answer, authors offer an exploration of their own processes and the tools they used to arrive at conclusions that fit their contexts and institutions. Their examples show how values can be central considerations in assessment, inform collection development, shape our spaces and services, influence policy, and be foundational for seeking a better way forward.
 
We have more power than we think to create change, and our values can be a touchstone for the decisions we make at every level. The strategies in Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library can help you holistically consider available options and make choices that consider your personal, institutional, and professional values amid challenging and changing circumstances.

Amanda Koziura (she/her) is head, scholarly communication and data services & associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her department works with researchers throughout the research lifecycle with an emphasis on open scholarship and data practices. Her leadership practice strives to be person-centered and sustainable, continually balancing institutional needs with available resources. In her previous role as a digital scholarship librarian she collaborated with faculty to integrate digital scholarship tools and methods into their research and teaching. She holds a BA in Theater & English from Skidmore College and an MLS from the University at Buffalo, SUNY.

Amy Tureen (she/her) is dean, academic success programs at South Puget Sound Community College. In this role she oversees the library, the Center for Teaching and Online Learning, Learning Support Services, and the College and Career Success Program. Her scholarship focuses on the intersections of leadership, wellness, and DEI-informed policy development. She holds a BA in English from Scripps College, an MA degree in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons College, an MLIS degree from Drexel University, and an EdD from the University of La Verne.
 

Contents
Introduction      
Amanda Koziura and Amy Tureen
 
Chapter One
Enacting Values: Libraries as Catalysts for Change
The HuMetricsHSS Team
 
Chapter Two
The Values-Sensitive Library Assessment Toolkit: A Decision Aid for Ethical Practice           
Scott W. H. Young
 
Chapter Three
Learning to Stop Worrying and Love the Library 
Jennifer Townes and Jolene Cole
 
Chapter Four
You Can’t Always Get What You Want, But If You Try Sometimes, You Get What You Need
Stephanie Bennett and Catherine Jannik Downey
 
Chapter Five
Small Changes, Big Returns: Decision-Making and Progress Towards Equitable Service Delivery
Kourtney Blackburn and Christina Hillman
 
Chapter Six
Towards a Reparations-Informed Purchasing Model for Library Collection Development and Acquisition
Amy Tureen
 
Chapter Seven
Dismantling Barriers, Amplifying Voices: Advancing Equity by Revitalizing a Spanish-Language Collection
Valerie Nye
 
Chapter Eight
Mapping Values to Inform Collection Development Decisions: A Consortial Approach
Summer Durrant, Helen McManus, Christopher Lowder, and Genya O’Gara
 
Chapter Nine
We Do Hard Things: Embracing Dissonance and Finding Harmony in Academic Libraries
Heather Sardis and Erin Stalberg
 
Chapter Ten
Risk, Reality, Regulations? Finding What’s Reasonable in Copyright Guidance
Lauren Byl
 
Chapter Eleven
Digitization Program Values and Impacts Over Time
Bronwen Sprout
 
Chapter Twelve
Finding Common Ground: Bringing LGBTQ+ Resources to a Catholic Institution
Jessica Mando
 
Chapter Thirteen
Values-Based Space Planning: Methods for Aligning Goals and Priorities
Lindsay Ozburn, Michael Harris, Kacy Lundstrom, and Jennifer Duncan
 
Chapter Fourteen
Enshrining Library and University Values through the Creation of a Policy Committee
Brian Sullivan and Rebecca B. French
 
Chapter Fifteen
Don’t do More with Less: Sustainable Work as a Management Value
Amanda Koziura
 
About the Editors and Authors