Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:25:14 -0500
From: Karl Bridges (Univ. of Vermont)
<kbridges_at_zoo.uvm.edu>
Subject: Comment re: ALCTS Acq Admin Disc. Group
If I could add one comment -- I think one problem with
getting people to take these jobs is that, so many times,
that the job ads for acquisitions and collection management
positions are very specific about "management experience
required" or similar language.
In my case, as an example, I have ten years plus as an
academic reference librarian, advanced degrees, experience
as a subject bibliographer, experience with systems and
electronic resources, cataloging, publications including
a book, etc. I could do the job. However, I've been working
as a "line" librarian and I haven't been a "manager".
So I don't even considerapplying for those positions in
acquisitions -- even though this is an area I'm quite
knowledgeable and interested in.
I'm not complaining about my personal choices in my career.
I'm quite happy. I'm working on moving into the area of
collection development eventually. However, it seems as a
profession that we could be doing more to encourage people who
are interested in moving up and/or in changing their functional
areas within the profession. As a profession we seem to
spend quite a bit of time encouraging people to enter the
profession -- it be nice if we spent an equal amount of time
encouraging the mid-career people to stick with it.
**************************************************************
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
....
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
Received on Sat Mar 02 2002 - 20:06:01 EST