ACQNET: RE - Where have allthe Acquisitions Librarians Gone? (2 more responses)

(1)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 09:40:22 -0400
From: Kimberley A. Shaw  <kshaw_at_wellesley.edu>
Subject: RE - Where have all the Acquisitions Librarians Gone?
(ACQflash)

Dear Ms. Miller:

Is this dearth of acquisitions librarians a very recent development, in
your perception? When I was out looking for a job a few years ago, my
major
impressions were that:
        -- libraries seemed able to "pick and choose" among multiple
candidates for exactly the things they were seeking,
        -- when I look specifically at Jewish institutes, museums, etc
(I
am observant, so had excluded all libraries which require
Saturday/Friday
night work hours from consideration), employers did seem much more in
need
of anyone with the right degree/experience ... but did not have the
means
to provide appropriate salaries!

So, I remain in the paraprofessional position I've been in since before
completing the MLS (and earning more than some of these jobs were
offering).

Sincerely,
Kimberley Shaw
Acquisitions Associate,
Wellesley College Library

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Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 12:57:44 -0400
From: Heather Miller (SUNY-Albany) <HMiller_at_uamail.albany.edu>
Subject: Responses from original posting

Thanks to everyone who responded to my recent query about whether and
why
it is hard to find acquisitions librarians. Some of the many interesting

responses are summarized below. In addition, a panel on this topic is
developing for the Charleston Conference. If any of this spurs further
thoughts or if you just haven't gotten around to responding yet, it's
not
too late. I would be happy to have more input. It's not too late to join

the panel either!

Here is what some respondents cited as impediments to finding people to
fill heads of acquisitions librarians. I did hear from one institution
(separately, not in response to my ACQNET posting) that they have
recently
filled such a position and had a good pool which, of course, raises
questions in light of the comments below.

*  Library schools - brainwash people into thinking the only real
librarians
are in reference; simply don't care - one student wrote to say she was
discouraged from writing a paper on acquisitions issues in library
school
and that there are no serials courses where she is. She wonders "how
much
employers are willing to relax their standards to hire an acquisitions
librarian" and whether she will "ever be able to gain the experience and

knowledge I might need to be a head of acquisitions ..."

* Too much bureaucracy in the academic hiring process

* Tenure requirements scare people off

* Ambiguities within the profession re acquisitions - some are glorified

order clerks, some department heads; is it technical services or
collection
management; varied amounts of respect, pay, authority, etc.

*  Personal factors - there are a lot of people well into their careers
for
whom personal issues loom large - considerations re children, cost of
moving, two career couples.

* Asking for reference letters with the letter of application instead of

just requesting the names of references

* Budget cutbacks have resulted in the loss of assistant head positions
so
there is no career path and people are not being prepared to move up
into
department head positions


Heather S. Miller
Assistant Director for Technical Services and Systems
University Libraries ULB34
University at Albany
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany NY 12222
518-442-3631
F518-442-3630