The Opportunity Costs of Faculty Status for Academic Librarians

Kingma, Bruce R.; McCombs, Gillian M.

doi:10.5860/crl_56_03_258

Cited by 24 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The related literature is profuse, chronologically ranging, and at times divisive. As noted by Kingma and McCombs (1995), "Faculty status for academic librarians is a topic which has consumed the attention of the profession for the last forty years" (p. 248), and "The philosophical debate as to the pros and cons of faculty status for academic librarians will probably continue ad infinitum" (p. 263). Still, the research aspect of librarians' work has long been codified by the field's leading professional associations.…”

Section: Librarian Research Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Productivity Among Scholarly Communication Librarians

Hollister¹,

Jensen

2023

Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication

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Introduction. A growing number of academic libraries have specialized their support for scholarly communication by creating positions or expanding units with a focus on providing relevant services. This study was undertaken to explore the extent to which librarians with scholarly communication responsibilities produce research and scholarship, their motivations for doing so, the nature of that productivity, and the perceived impact of that activity on their professional responsibilities. Method. The authors administered a survey of librarians who identified as having their primary job responsibilities in scholarly communication. Results. Almost all study participants produced their own scholarly work. However, a high percentage indicated they received no relevant training in their library degree programs, and the majority experienced imposter syndrome pertaining to their own scholarship. Many respondents indicated the term “scholarly communication(s)” was in their professional titles, but open education services were also part of their portfolios. Although most respondents were motivated to produce research by institutional expectations for promotion and tenure, greater percentages were driven by personal or professional interests. In addition, participants indicated a strong correlation between producing their own scholarship and their ability to effectively carry out their professional responsibilities. Discussion. There may be an emerging convention for scholarly communication librarianship: one that includes open education services. Findings suggest a need for scholarly communication training to be more prominent in library degree programs. They also point to the utility of making research production a job requirement, regardless of institutional expectations for professional advancement. Conclusion. The authors argue for adjustments in library education curricula and the inclusion of research production in the portfolios of scholarly communication librarians. Future research directions are proposed. 

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Section: Librarian Research Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Productivity Among Scholarly Communication Librarians

Hollister¹,

Jensen

2023

Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication

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“…Park and Riggs (1993) The library director, dean, and the vice president of academic affairs also play extremely important roles either to enhance or to hinder our drive to achieve and to maintain a desirable professional identity whether it is faculty status and tenure or professional status. The collective comments from library administrators/scholars such as Cronin (2001), Schneider (2010, McKenzie (2010), and Kingma and McCombs (1995) include that academic librarianship should be concerned with "service" "librarians are not teaching faculty," and "opportunity costs of faculty status for academic librarians." Clearly, some library administrators play an adversarial role by not supporting librarians' professional identity for faculty status.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questions about Academic Librarians: Factors Influencing Our Academic Identity

Freedman¹

2014

Too Much Is Not Enough!

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This paper presents the results of a comparative survey inquiry into professional identity, views on faculty and tenure status, career advancement opportunities, and personnel status of 196 academic librarians and library administrators in the New England area. This research reveals that 45%of the respondents have some kind of faculty status which is comprised of faculty and tenure status (24%); tenure status (11%) and faculty status only (9%.) Sixty-five percent do not have tenure status and 55% have professional status. Attitudes toward research and scholarship were divided into "encouraged" and "not encouraged at all" across all academic statuses of institutional variances. This research concludes that the personnel status of academic librarians and library administrator's perspective on faculty and tenure status (from many of the influencing factors,) set the most prominent tone for the professional identity of librarians and expectations of the academia.

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Support for Research and Service in Florida Academic Libraries

Neville

Henry

2007

The Journal of Academic Librarianship

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The Opportunity Costs of Faculty Status for Academic Librarians

Cited by 24 publications

References 8 publications

Research Productivity Among Scholarly Communication Librarians

Research Productivity Among Scholarly Communication Librarians

Questions about Academic Librarians: Factors Influencing Our Academic Identity

Support for Research and Service in Florida Academic Libraries

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