Trends in Integration-Based Orientation in Academic Libraries

When new employees join an organization, a great deal of information must be provided to support their success. While clarifying job duties, outlining operational procedures, and reviewing benefits details are priorities, integrating employees into the culture of the organization is perhaps the most critical, and most often overlooked, aspect of orientation programs. In the ever-expanding field of information science and knowledge management, it is imperative that organizations provide comprehensive orientation programs that not only welcome new employees but successfully integrate them to their long-term contributions to the organization and the profession. This chapter examines the importance of orientation programs and discusses how current orientation programs in several academic and research libraries are effectively focusing on organizational culture and employee integration.