Conditions for Creativity and Innovation in the Work Environment of Academic Libraries in the United States and Canada

Abstract

Creativity, the development of a new product, idea, or problem solution that is valuable within the local context, is vital to innovating, problem-solving, and facilitating change. An individual’s ability to be creative largely depends on whether their environment supports creative work. This study explores how academic library employees in the United States and Canada perceive their work environment to better understand whether current academic libraries facilitate creative work in relation to management practices, organizational motivation, resources, and outcomes. The study finds that academic libraries fall at or below the median in all four categories.