Dissertation

Title: The Preparation of Academic Library Administrators

Status: successfully defended proposal, revising research questions, preparing pilot study

• Statement of the Problem
• Purpose of the Study
• Research Questions

Statement of the Problem

There is currently no agreed-upon standard preparation or education for academic library administrators. In addition, there is little data comparing the effectiveness of existing preparatory methods. Several studies have surveyed the educational attainment of academic library deans, but these have primarily focused upon deans employed at major research institutions and have not addressed the relevance of their education to specific leadership domains (Caldwell, 1962; Cohn, 1976; Karr, 1984; McAnallay & Downs, 1973; Myers & Kaufman, 1991; Parsons, 1976; Person & Newman, 1990; Rooks, 1994; Wong & Zubatsky, 1985). Studies of preparatory methods other than educational attainment have primarily been descriptive or focused on leadership attributes (Fitsimmons, 2005; Hernon, Powell, & Young, 2003; Kreitz, 2009). Most of these studies have been of small groups of library deans (20 or less). Greicar’s (2009) study of the preparation of academic college deans addresses the need to connect preparatory methods with specific leadership domains, but she did not include library deans in her population. There is a need for empirical study of preparation methods of current academic library deans, and to determine the methods that are most relevant to their leadership responsibilities.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to identify which preparation methods for academic library deans and associate deans are most relevant to their position and to specific aspects of academic leadership. This may guide the training of those who aspire to become academic library administrators. It may also guide the improvement or creation of library school curricula and/or professional training for current and future academic library administrators to better prepare them for the position’s academic and political environment. Second, this study will identify the training and education backgrounds are most common among current library administrators. This will inform hiring administrators and search committees about current trends among library administrators, and may help them better decide what educational requirements are appropriate for their institution. Third, this study will explore the differences between the frequency and effectiveness of various preparatory methods according to demographic and institutional characteristics. It may be that specific preparatory methods are more effective for specific individuals or specific institutions.

Research Questions

1. What preparation methods do academic library deans and associate deans experience?
2. What preparation methods do academic library deans and associate deans perceive as the
   most beneficial?
3. Are there group differences–by degree attainment, age, ethnicity, length of
   administrative tenure, administrative experience, and highest degree attained–in the
   preparation that these groups experience?
4. Are there group differences–by degree attainment, age, ethnicity, length of
   administrative tenure, administrative experience, and highest degree attained–in the
   preparation that these groups find of most value?