Title: The Preparation of Academic Library Administrators
Visual abstract of research & findings. Created with Prezi, embedded with Slideshare.
The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the preparation methods experienced by academic library deans, and which methods they perceived to be most valuable. Rosser, Johnsrud, and Heck (2000, 2003) defined the theoretical constructs of effective academic leadership upon which this study is based. The instrument (a modified version of Greicar’s (2009) Professional Preparation of Academic Deans Questionnaire) was administered online. The population was the chief administrators of academic libraries in the United States; there were 749 usable responses for a 30.4% response rate. Respondents were primarily female (61.7%), White non-Hispanic (90.0%), and born in the United States (95.7%), with a mean age of 56.4 (5.9% < 40, 11.0% > 65). The largest minority group was Black, non-Hispanic (3.9%). Many respondents held multiple advanced degrees; 90.0% held a MLS, 45.8% held a subject masters, and 18.8% held a doctorate.
The instrument measured academic library deans’ perceived value of various preparatory methods (formal and informal mentoring, on the job training, conferences or seminars, advanced degrees beyond the MLS, and training programs). The methods were tested for perceived effectiveness with Rosser, Johnsrud, and Heck’s (2000, 2003) theoretical constructs of academic leadership. Each preparation method was measured using eight item-level variables and summed to create a scale. Parametric analyses were used to examine scale-level variables and nonparametric analyses to evaluate item-level variables. On the job training was both the most commonly-experienced method (86.6%) and the most highly-valued (M = 24.97). Mentoring was a particularly important preparation method for female and minority deans. Female deans perceived informal mentoring to be more valuable than did males, differing in a statistically significant way, t(447) = -2.12, p < .05. Minorities rated formal and informal mentoring higher than did non-minorities. These findings were also statistically significant, t(114)= 2.73, p < .05; t(441) = 3.05, p < .05. Practical implications and future research are discussed.
- What preparation methods do academic library deans experience?
- What preparation methods do academic library deans perceive as the most beneficial? Does this vary according to the employing institution’s Association of Research Libraries (ARL) status?
- According to the literature, library and information science (LIS) education may not adequately prepare academic library deans for administrative positions. What value do deans place on advanced degrees (beyond the MLS)?
- According to the literature, mentoring was an integral part of recruiting women and minority professionals as academic library deans twenty years ago. What value do current deans place on mentoring, as opposed to other methods of preparation? Does this vary by gender? If so, are these differences affected by age? Does perceived value of mentoring vary by minority status?
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