Perceived Inadequacy: A Study of the Imposter Phenomenon among College and Research Librarians

Abstract

The Imposter Phenomenon (IP) is an observed anxiety caused by an individual’s feelings of fraudulence, fear of being exposed as a fraud, and inability to internalize personal achievement. This study measures the incidence of the IP among librarians at college and research institutions in the United States and Canada and seeks to identify factors that contribute to its frequency. One in eight librarians reported above average IP scores. Younger librarians and those with less longevity experience IP feelings at a higher rate than more experienced counterparts. Also included is a discussion of how to lessen the impact of IP feelings.

Jumping Into The Deep: Imposter Syndrome, Defining Success and the New Librarian

“…Overall, these anecdotal findings tie in with the existing literature indicating that IS is damaging for both the individual who experiences it and their places of work, especially for those new to the profession (Clark and Barba, 2014). Hutchins (2015) even found that higher rates of IS thoughts in academic faculty were tied to lower ratings in job performance.…”

“…As has been found by Faulkner (2015), while IS is not unique to new or younger librarians, it is greatly felt by this group in particular (Clark, Vardeman, & Barba, 2014). There are many reasons for this.…”

“…Clark and Barba (2014) found the importance of getting support for professional development in a librarian's success, and can be tied in with getting constructive feedback and support for furthering understanding and accomplishments within librarianship. There is a wide range of expectations in this field in terms of what professional contributions mean, based on the the institution or organization, stream of librarianship, or individual priorities.…”

“…As a group, librarians set high goals for themselves, which, when overworked, are not easily achieved. This leads to further feelings of doubt regarding one's abilities, and amplifies the feeling of IS in our roles (Clark, Vardeman, & Barba, 2014;Faulkner, 2015;Parkman, 2016).…”

“…Second, new librarians often experience the 'let me show you to your desk' approach where very little orientation or mentoring is provided (Faulkner, 2015). The isolation and pressure to succeed can be demoralizing (Clark, Vardeman, & Barba, 2014;Parkman, 2016;Murphy, 2016).…”