Support for Scholarly Research in Florida Academic Libraries

Tina Neville and Deborah HenryUSF Libraries Annual Meeting

December 15, 2006

2003 survey of practicing academic librarians in Florida:

On October 16, 2003, email invitations were sent to 820 librarians at sixty-eight different institutions196 usable replies were received Although the responses were anonymous,36 respondents provided their institutional name, allowing the authors to confirm that at least 53% of the 68 institutions surveyed were represented in the final response.

In 2003, promotion-earning Florida academic librarians said:65% felt there had been a greater emphasis on publishing in the last 5 years59% said publishing books and articles was required or strongly recommended for promotion43% felt that national presentations are required or strongly recommended for promotion29% said that state presentations are required or strongly recommended for promotion

In 2003, promotion-earning Florida academic librarians said:

51% claimed full travel support with another 39% having partial travel support

59% had sabbatical and/or research leave available

2005 Research Questions:Did academic library administrators agree with the consensus that professional research requirements had increased in the last five years?What kind of support were academic library administrators providing for librarian’s professional research?What kind of support were academic institutions providing for librarian’s professional research?

A second survey was conducted in May 2005 of library administrators at Florida academic libraries

Institutional Responses:Associate Colleges: 23Baccalaureate: 7Master’s: 14Doctoral/Research: 17Specialized: 3Other: 1

Total Responses: 65Response rate: 71%

Emphasis on publishing - Comparisons

44% of the total library administrators surveyed in 2005 responded that they felt the emphasis on publishing has increased in the last 5 years60% of all the practicing academic librarians who responded to the 2003 surveyed believed that emphasis on publishing has increased

Emphasis on publishing – Comparisons by type of institution

At promotion-earning institutions, 41% of the library administrators agreed that the emphasis on publishing had increased

65% of the promotion-earning librarians believed that the emphasis on publishing had increased

Emphasis on publishing – Comparisons by type of institution

At tenure-earning institutions, 100% of the administrators agreed that the emphasis had increased.

83% of the tenure-earning librarians believed that the emphasis on publishing had increased

Emphasis on publishing – Comparisons by type of institution

0%

20%40%

60%80%

100%120%

AllInstitutions

Tenure Promotiononly

Administrators

Librarians

2005 Results: Travel funds

53% of administrators at doctoral/research libraries felt travel funds had increased in the last 5 years—24% said funding had decreased

2005 Results: Travel fundsTravel requests receiving the highest priority are for presentations at a national conference (89%) or at a state conference (81%)

Next highest priority went to those attending committee meetings at a national (61%) or state (60%) meeting

2005 Results: Travel fundsMembers attending national conferences for professional development purposes received high priority funding in 44% of the cases

Members attending state conferences for professional development purposes received high priority funding in 48% of the cases

2005 Results: ResearchResearch is required at 65% of the doctoral/research level institutions but only 44% of them include research time in their official job descriptions

2005 Results: Time for ResearchThe most common allotment of time devoted to research is 5-10% (42%), irrespective of rank25% have 10-20% of their time devoted to researchOnly 8% have more than 20% devoted to research

2005 Results: Time for Research at doctoral/research institutions87% of the institutions allow informal or irregular release time for research activities67% allow flexible scheduling to aid in research activities23% are eligible for regular release time to work on research

2005 Results: Guidance for Research activities at doctoral/research institutions

82% provide informal mentoring24% have a library research committee18% provide formal mentoring18% do not provide any kind of specific guidance

Guidance for Research: What works?

At Auburn University, a Library Research Advisory Committee was established to communicate and educate librarians on a variety of research topics.

Since the committee was established in 1987, research productivity has increased by almost 90%1

1Tamera P. Lee, "The Library Research Committee: It Has the Money and the Time," The Journal of Academic Librarianship 21, (March 1995): 111-115;

2005 Results: Research funds

Funding requests may be made for:Equipment (85% institutions)Photocopying supplies (85% institutions)Software (79% institutions)Mailing supplies/postage (72% institutions)Student or grad assistant help (50%)Clerical support (43%)

2005 Results: Professional memberships:Doctoral, Masters, and Baccalaureate Institutions

60% require or strongly consider professional memberships at the national level for promotion and tenure decisionsAt 76% of these institutions, the individual is responsible for all membership fees in professional associationsOf the institutions that pay for memberships, all are small private or law libraries.

Discussion:Is the increasing emphasis on publication for promotion a reasonable expectation?If not, how can we change it? If yes, what can we do to improve in the areas of support?How many people are expected to continue scholarly activities after they have completed all promotions? How many do?

DiscussionWhat is a reasonable expectation for the amount of money individuals should be required to spend out-of-pocket?

What kinds of mentoring activities do you think are most useful?

Additional questions?

Full results will be available…

In the January 2007 issue of the Journal of Academic Librarianship