Speaking as a public-services librarian, I don't think it is the "replaceability" of public services folks that is behind this. Depending on the size of the library, public services people can be highly specialized and not an easy thing to completely cover for their areas. I supervise twelve people and that doesn't really make it easy to not be in the office, either. I also do not think it has to do with public services work being "more like teaching faculty" because while I can see that argument being made, I believe it is not true and likely not what is behind the motivation.
What this really represents, and why it is cause for concern, is a deprofessionalization of the work of the technical-services librarians. I don't know the situation at your library or the motivations, but the end result is two tiers that places technical-services librarians on a lowered step. The concern might be with
* workload too high/too inflexible to allow research time
* perceived difficulty in crafting a research agenda in technical services areas
* getting internal and external letters of support in technical services areas
* difficulty in attracting qualified people who want to be tenure-track
If it is workloads, then workloads need to be examined and made more fair. It would be interesting to know where that concern is coming from, is it from the recently tenured (or not tenured) tech-services librarians? Is it from administration? Is it from campus? I don't think it should be any more difficult to come up with research in technical services areas, there is a lot that seems open for examination in either theory or management. Maybe what needs to be examined instead is what counts for tenure. I'd be wary here as well as setting up two different requirements for tenure between public services and technical services as it might be perceived as unfair and/or deprofessionalize the group with the "easier" requirements, unless perhaps it is to not require letters from campus faculty for technical services positions. Find out the motivation for this change and then work from there to a more equitable solution.
Since I am not in technical services I did not respond immediately. But I do think it is concerning that colleagues would be devalued into a non-tenure class. It could place them in a different position in terms of promotion and salary, as well as voice within the library. I can't do my job well if there aren't technical services people doing their jobs well and we want to hire the best people and to treat them well.
To answer the question about what happens at my library, we have tenure-track librarians in technical-services in the leadership positions.
Best,
Kathleen
From: acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: 18 July, 2013 8:20 AM
To: 'acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org'
Subject: Re: [ACQNET-L] Tenured Acquisitions librarians?
Hi Karen,
I replied privately to Stacey, but I'll share a few of my thoughts here.
You and I had different reads on this situation. First, I'll say that I have never been in a library where the public service and technical service librarians had different statuses. However, it is an idea that I think might be worth exploring. Or at least, explore the idea of having different requirements for attaining tenure.
I don't think it's a question of a whether or not a tech service librarian can be public service-oriented but rather a matter of job responsibilities and who can fill them. When a public service librarian needs to take some time off (for research or whatever), it's easy enough for another to step in and fill his or her shoes on the reference desk or in a library instruction course. But when a technical service librarian takes time off, there are few - if any - who are qualified to take on those duties. That's been my experience, anyway, in small, medium, and large academic libraries. And so it makes sense - to me - to have different requirements for tenure. Maybe not different statuses, though.
I may be completely wrong, though, about the motives or thoughts of Stacey's library administration! Maybe she can clarify for us...
Cheers,
Katy G.
Katy Ginanni, Collection Development Librarian
Hunter Library
Western Carolina University
176 Central Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
ksginanni_at_email.wcu.edu<mailto:ksginanni_at_email.wcu.edu>
828-227-3729 office
library.wcu.edu
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From: acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org> [mailto:acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 3:02 PM
To: acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [ACQNET-L] Tenured Acquisitions librarians?
What on earth is their justification of this? I have never heard of something like that, and I'm part of the 64-campus SUNY system which includes campuses of all types, from community colleges through major research universities. When it comes to tenured librarians, they don't differentiate between pub/tech/other services.
I am a head of Tech Services, was formerly an Acquisitions librarian, and have tenure, as do all of our librarians.
I know that some places hire "non-librarians" for some technical roles such as programmers, but those positions don't require an MLS. In addition, the curriculum at the average library school covers a wide variety of what technical services librarians do...I'm sure those programs would help defend the tenure-worthiness of technical services work.
I hate to get into a debate on back-room vs front-of-house librarians, mostly because I think the distinction is useless. If you catalog...you are creating records to be used by your public. If you buy books, they are to be used by your users-and you must KNOW your users and their needs as well as any public services librarian. To think that a tech services librarian is by default going to be not public-service-oriented is baseless. In addition, most good public services librarians now have to be just as "technical" as the rest, and have to understand the systems in order to use them.
Maybe it's the term "acquisitions" or "technical services" that throws them off. Collection Librarian? Collection Access Librarian? Human-Information Interface Coordinator? Yes, that would definitely be tenure-worthy ;)
-Karen Gelles
Greenley Library
Farmingdale State College, SUNY
From: acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org> [mailto:acqnet-l-bounces_at_lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:32 AM
To: Acqnet
Subject: [ACQNET-L] Tenured Acquisitions librarians?
All
I would like to know how many Acquisitions Librarians on the list are tenured. The library administration at my institution has declared that tenured librarians should not be working in tech services, but only public services. I'm trying to gather information on whether there are institutions that differentiate among librarian status and where they work in the library.
As background, at American, we have 2 statuses - tenured or tenure-track and Term librarians. The term librarians are on multi-year contracts and their creative and scholarly duties are less than the tenured librarians. There are 3 library faculty in tech services - 1 is tenured and 2 are term. We are currently hiring for the Director of Technical Services and that would be a term position.
thanks for any information you are willing to provide.
Stacey
Stacey Marien
Acquisitions Librarian
American University Library
smarien_at_american.edu<mailto:smarien_at_american.edu>
202-885-3842
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Received on Fri Jul 19 2013 - 16:20:46 EDT