Study of potential advantages or disadvantages to academic librarians possessing doctorates.

1. THE VALUE OF THE
DOCTORATE
FOR ACADEMIC
LIBRARIANS Annie Downey
Starr Hoffman
University of North Texas
ASHE Conference
November 2009
U N T E D H E 4 0 th
Anniversar y
N ov e m b e r 2 01 0

2. PURPOSE AND CONTEXT
 Inquiry designed to:
 survey literature & current condition of academic librarianship
 assess potential value of doctoral degree for:
 academic librarians
 library deans
 Focus on relevant benefits:
 improved job performance
 improved library outcomes

3. SUBJECT EXPERTISE
 Typical job requirement
 subject librarian / liaison / subject specialist
 Debate: attaining subject skills
 MLS + on-the-job
 MLS + second master’s or PhD/EdD
 PhD/EdD instead of MLS
 More debate:
 generalist vs. specialist (breadth vs. depth)

4. RESEARCH SKILLS
 Acculturation
 MLS professional librarian
 EdD administrator / practitioner
 PhD researcher
 Strengths & weaknesses of research skills
 librarians
 PhDs/EdDs
 Faculty status of librarians
 research & publishing

5. INSIGHT INTO FACULT Y & DOCTORAL LIFE
 Terminal degree for academic librarians
 “The master’s degree in library science… is the appropriate terminal degree for
academic librarians.”
(ACRL*, 1975; reaffirmed 2007)
 ACRL/AAUP statement on faculty status:
 “Neither administrative responsibilities nor professional degrees, titles, or skills,
per se, qualify members of the academic community for faculty status. The
function of the librarian as participant in the processes of teaching and research
is the essential criterion of faculty status.”
(ACRL* & AAUP**, 1972; reaffirmed 2007)
 Asymmetrical disconnect between faculty & librarians
 “understanding of the process”
* AC R L : A s s o c i a t i o n o f C o l l e g e & R e s e a r c h L i b r a r i e s
* * A AU P : A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f U n i ve r s i t y P r o f e s s o r s

6. DEAN REQUIREMENTS
 Doctoral degree necessary?
 librarian opinions
 college/university administrator opinions
 Changing position descriptions
 additional advanced degrees
 scholarly abilities
 professional activities

7. DEAN REQUIREMENTS:
INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
 Understanding of higher education
 how to get things done
 focus on institution the library serves
 trends in higher education
 respect of peers, administrators

8. OTHER DEAN REQUIREMENTS
 Fundraising
 Grant writing
 Funding justification
 Professional networks
 Collaborations & consortiums
 Wider, diverse group of colleagues
 Personal preparedness

9. CONCLUSIONS
 Requirements are escalating
 PhD/EdD should not replace MLS
 BUT provides additional skills, knowledge, values, &
understanding
 Credentials matter
 Libraries are changing

10. FURTHER RESEARCH
 Degrees held by deans
 122 ARL* library deans
 Degrees (MLS, other masters, EdD, PhD, etc.)
 Degree fields, specializations
 Expansion beyond ARL libraries
 Degrees held by academic librarians
*ARL: Association of Research Libraries