Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2002 10:21:51 -0500 From: Norman Desmarais (Providence College) <normd_at_postoffice.providence.edu> Subject: ALCTS Acquisitions Administrators Discussion Group Report Association for Library Collections & Technical Services Acquisitions Administrators Discussion Group Report Norman Desmarais, Acquisitions Librarian at Providence College, introduced the officers of the discussion group, made a few announcements, and introduced the meeting topic, "The Vanishing Acquisitions Librarian," which engendered a lively discussion. We explored whether or not everybody was in agreement that there really is a shortage of librarians or is it a matter of perception. While most people agreed that there was a shortage of acquisitions librarians, others found that they had a large enough pool of applicants for positions. The problem of the latter group was recruiting enough qualified applicants. Some people don't apply because they don't know anything about acquisitions. Others find the job ads and job descriptions intimidating because of their unfamiliarity with the jargon. This led to a discussion of what library schools are doing to prepare acquisitions librarians. Several participants echoed that library schools don't do enough to educate students in the issues of acquisitions librarianship. Some people thought that the matter was a training issue and commented that library schools don't train, they educate. Others focused on the need to establish the principles of cataloging and acquisitions that underlie these specialties. Participants generally agreed that we need to do a better job communicating with educators about the value and the role of acquisitions librarianship. We need to be aware of customer service issues and implement them in acquisitions. One suggested way is to do a customer service survey to learn what our constituents think about our service. We should also be up front about what we can do and what services we can offer. If our constituents have realistic expectations, they will tend to be more satisfied with the services they receive. Several of the participants attended a session at last year's Charleston Conference that focused on the same topic. One of the speakers, a former dean of a library school, commented that the number of library school graduates cannot keep pace with the number of vacancies created by retirements and people leaving the profession for other positions. The Invisible Librarian Another factor in filling acquisitions librarian positions is that technical services is not a very visible area of librarianship. Consequently, it is not perceived as being very glamorous or attractive work. We need to promote the idea that acquisitions and catalog librarians are all-purpose librarians. Their qualifications and skills can serve all departments of a library. It is hoped that Laura Bush's proposed $10 million initiative to recruit a new generation of librarians will interest candidates to consider acquisitions librarianship. Salaries Low salaries are a major factor in recruiting librarians. Librarianship has generally been considered a female dominated profession with historically low salaries. Many still perceive women as earning a second income for their families. While that may be true for some librarians, most are primary wage earners. Yet the perception has not changed with the social reality. While some people expressed concern about low salaries for support staff, one participant related that one of her colleagues started as a paraprofessional and studied for an MLS. When she graduated, she took a $7,000 pay cut to assume a professional position. Salary compression is another issue. New recruits can often negotiate higher salaries than incumbents in similar positions. Cost of living increases often don't keep pace with the changing job market. This is not a problem limited to libraries. Rather, it is a university wide problem affecting all faculty and departments. Some think it is an even greater problem with support staff salaries. There was a brief discussion of the devaluation of acquisitions librarians. In some institutions, the position is classified as a clerical one. While such positions don't require a degree, most incumbents realize a need for further education. Yet, when they obtain an MLS, they don't receive any additional compensation. This situation is not likely to change as long as people are content to accept the status quo. Yet, the difficulties of re-classifying positions may be daunting or insurmountable in most institutions. Doing the same job for thirty years is still doing the same job; so it should not get more pay for enhanced experience. The use of a computer doesn't necessarily mean a job is more complex. We need to point out our decision making responsibilities and compare them with our peers. While acquisitions departments are getting smaller, there is more emphasis on department head status and supervisory responsibilities. Could this emphasis lead people to think that the problems of administration are not worth the salary offered? One responded that money is power and acquisitions librarian positions should be attractive because these practitioners have some control over spending. We plan to continue discussion on other related topics at the annual meeting in Atlanta under the topic of "The Changing Face of Acquisitions Librarianship." Norman Desmarais Acquisitions Librarian Phillips Memorial Library Providence College Providence, RI 02918 401-865-2241 401-865-2823 (fax)
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Association for Library Collections & Technical Services Acquisitions Administrators Discussion Group Report Norman Desmarais, Acquisitions Librarian at Providence College, introduced the officers of the discussion group, made a few announcements, and introduced the meeting topic, The Vanishing Acquisitions Librarian, which engendered a lively discussion. We explored whether or not everybody was in agreement that there really is a shortage of librarians or is it a matter of perception. While most people agreed that there was a shortage of acquisitions librarians, others found that they had a large enough pool of applicants for positions. The problem of the latter group was recruiting enough qualified applicants. Some people don't apply because they don't know anything about acquisitions. Others find the job ads and job descriptions intimidating because of their unfamiliarity with the jargon. This led to a discussion of what library schools are doing to prepare acquisitions librarians. Several participants echoed that library schools don't do enough to educate students in the issues of acquisitions librarianship. Some people thought that the matter was a training issue and commented that library schools don't train, they educate. Others focused on the need to establish the principles of cataloging and acquisitions that underlie these specialties. Participants generally agreed that we need to do a better job communicating with educators about the value and the role of acquisitions librarianship. We need to be aware of customer service issues and implement them in acquisitions. One suggested way is to do a customer service survey to learn what our constituents think about our service. We should also be up front about what we can do and what services we can offer. If our constituents have realistic expectations, they will tend to be more satisfied with the services they receive. Several of the participants attended a session at last year's Charleston Conference that focused on the same topic. One of the speakers, a dean of a library school, commented that the number of library school graduates cannot keep pace with the number of vacancies created by retirements and people leaving the profession for other positions. The Invisible Librarian Another factor in filling acquisitions librarian positions is that technical services is not a very visible area of librarianship. Consequently, it is not perceived as being very glamorous or attractive work. We need to promote the idea that acquisitions and catalog librarians are all-purpose librarians. Their qualifications and skills can serve all departments of a library. It was hoped that Laura Bush's proposed $10 million initiative to recruit a new generation of librarians would interest candidates to consider acquisitions librarianship. Salaries Low salaries are a major factor in recruiting librarians. Librarianship has generally been considered a female-dominated profession with historically low salaries. Many still perceive women as earning a second income for their families. While that may be true for some librarians, most are primary wage earners. Yet the perception has not changed with the social reality. While some people expressed concern about low salaries for support staff, one participant related that one of her colleagues started as a paraprofessional and studied for an MLS. When she graduated, she took a $7,000 pay cut to assume a professional position. Salary compression is another issue. New recruits can often negotiate higher salaries than incumbents in similar positions. Cost of living increases often don't keep pace with the changing job market. This is not a problem limited to libraries. Rather, it is a university-wide problem affecting all faculty and departments. Some think it is an even greater problem with support staff salaries. There was a brief discussion of the devaluation of acquisitions librarians. In some institutions, the position is classified as a clerical one. While such positions don't require a degree, most incumbents realize a need for further education. Yet, when they obtain an MLS, they don't receive any additional compensation. This situation is not likely to change as long as people are content to accept the status quo. Yet, the difficulties of re-classifying positions may be daunting or insurmountable in most institutions. Doing the same job for thirty years is still doing the same job; so it should not get more pay for enhanced experience. The use of a computer doesn't necessarily mean a job is more complex. We need to point out our decision making responsibilities and compare them with our peers. While acquisitions departments are getting smaller, there is more emphasis on department head status and supervisory responsibilities. Could this emphasis lead people to think that the problems of administration are not worth the salary offered? One responded that money is power and acquisitions librarian positions should be attractive because these practitioners have some control over spending. We plan to continue discussion on other related topics at the annual meeting in Atlanta under the topic of The Changing Face of Acquisitions Librarianship. Norman Desmarais Acquisitions Librarian Phillips Memorial Library Providence College Providence, RI 02918 401-865-2241 401-865-2823 (fax)Received on Thu Feb 14 2002 - 21:48:57 EST