This article is the third and last of a multi-part study on academic instruction librarians' conceptions and experiences of teacher agency in relation to their instructional work. Based on the findings of an online survey of academic instruction librarians, this final article concentrates on the role that librarian relationships play in academic…

This study examined the influence of physical work environment on the research productivity of librarians in universities in southwestern Nigeria. The author surveyed a population of 312 librarians from university libraries in the region. The results indicated that the librarians' research productivity was significantly influenced by their…

Academic libraries have long employed students in roles vital to running a library, such as checking books in and out, shelving, and answering basic patron questions. More recently, libraries have also sought ways to demonstrate value and align with campus priorities, such as student engagement. This study uses interviews with library employers…

During COVID-19, academic library employees pivoted to predominantly remote work. Associate deans, associate university librarians, and equivalent managers at the top 50 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions were interviewed about benefits, challenges, pre-pandemic norms, necessary conditions, and the future of flexible work…

This article examines racism and accountability practices within academic libraries from the perspective of academic library administrators, with attention to differences between BIPOC and White academic library administrators. The quantitative data collected via an online survey show White academic library administrators are more likely to…

The experience of COVID-19 has prompted a reckoning within both special collections and the larger library community about how we do our work. This article provides some thoughts about the "new normal" of working in the COVID-19 era. It shares some informal conversations with colleagues as well as guides to sources for further reflection.

The majority of articles on mentoring in the library and information science field address career development by emphasizing the orientation process for new librarians and building the requisite skills for a specific job. Few articles deal with the psychological and social challenges that many early-career and minority librarians face, which can…

The topic of academic/research librarians with subject doctorates remains largely unexplored. Based on survey data gathered from subject-doctorate holders (excluding those with doctorates in LIS) currently working in U.S. and Canadian academic/research libraries, this article extends the analysis published by the authors in the January 2008 issue…

This study explores the perceptions that Israeli reference librarians have of their jobs and their academic environment. Fifteen academic reference librarians were interviewed over a period of four months and their answers were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. The analysis resulted in five major themes: 1) elements in reference work…

An increasing number of academic and research libraries have built high-density shelving facilities to address overcrowding conditions in their regular stacks. However, the work performed in these facilities is physically strenuous and highly repetitive in nature and may require the use of potentially dangerous equipment. This article will examine…

Describes changes in the undergraduate library at the University of Washington that resulted in combining the reference and computer support desks into one service desk. Discusses benefits and drawbacks to the new service and considers training, communication, the librarians' changing work environment, and expanded services. (Author/LRW)

Public services librarians perform an increasingly diverse set of duties, and this study explores which job components are most important to librarians. The researchers surveyed public services librarians at ARL libraries to gather data on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence how public services librarians spend their time. The…

Analyzes available data to determine the validity of explanations offered for the shortage of qualified academic librarians. Highlights include recruiting academic/ research librarians; library school enrollment trends; placement data; future possibilities; salary and working conditions; and professional issues. (Contains 50 references.)…