ERIC Number: ED665613
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 171
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-7282-2898-1
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Role of the Academic Librarian: A Comparison of Administrator and Librarian Perspectives
Christina Prucha
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Lindenwood University
Abbott (1988) theorized librarians belonged to a class of professionals whose division of labor required constant negotiate with other stakeholders. Regardless of or perhaps because of constant negotiation, librarians have advocated for and documented roles as educators, faculty, and professionals from the earliest days of the profession (Sawtelle, 1878) to the present (Coker et al., 2010; Cronin, 2001; Gabbay & Shoham, 2019; Galbraith et al., 2016; Garcia & Barbour, 2018; Hicks, 2014; Hill, 1994; Zai, 2015). To a lesser extent, librarians have also documented how others view librarian roles (Christiansen et al., 2004; English, 1984), and Fleming-May and Douglass (2014) called for more research into relationships between librarians and administrators after noting the lack of research. The present study sought to fill in a gap by comparing librarian and college administrator perspectives on roles played by academic librarians on campus. Using symbolic interactionism and role theory as theoretical frameworks, results suggested the neither group agreed on one definition for what librarians do. Differences did not emerge among groups but among individuals in terms of how they believed librarian responsibilities fit instructional and faculty roles. Finally, successful negotiation of role occurred when librarians aligned themselves with powerful allies who shared similar understandings of librarian roles and advocated to create or maintain roles for librarians based on those ideals. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Librarians, Librarian Attitudes, Administrators, Administrator Attitudes, Comparative Analysis, Responsibility, Professional Recognition, Role, College Administration, Role Conflict, Academic Rank (Professional), Noninstructional Responsibility, Instruction
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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