THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF ACADEMIC LIBRARY DEANS

Starr Hoffman

Annie Downey

University of North Texas

QQML, May 28, 2010

Chania, Crete, Greece

ABSTRACT This study uses quantitative methods to study

the degrees and majors of all 123 academic library deans at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions.

This study shows trends in hiring deans as well as commonalities among those interested in administrative library positions.

METHODOLOGY

sample size = 104 ARL* library deans started with the 123 library deans currently listed in ARL

directory listwise deletion of cases for those missing specific data

most of these were only missing a small amount of information, such as the subjects of degrees or dates they were earned

chose ARL deans because: well-defined group small size = easy to gather information on majority of deans may serve as a model for other libraries

* Association of Research Libraries

METHODOLOGY

document analysis: library websites

staff directories dean welcome pages dean bios

university academic catalogs faculty directories faculty profiles CVs press releases library newsletters publications ARL minutes, news, etc.

solicited any missing information by email

METHODOLOGY

information gathered includes: presence or absence of a library science degree presence or absence of a doctoral degree other degrees earned length of time in current dean position (year hired) specific title of their position major subjects of study Carnegie classification of institution at which the

degrees were earned

THE DATA

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Are newer deans: more likely to possess a doctorate? more likely to possess an advanced degree in

addition to the masters in library science? What percentage of deans have a masters in

library science? Are deans with PhDs more or less likely to

also possess a masters in library science? How many deans’ PhDs are in library

science?

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

total ARL Deans / Directors 56 male 69 female

current study includes 104 45 male 59 female

71% hired for current position after 2000 68% of doctorate holders were hired after

2000 only 24% have doctoral degrees

DEANS AND DIRECTORS HIRE DATES

7%

22%

36%

35%

Year Hired for Current Position

1980-891990-992000-052006-10

MLS ONLY

35.6% have MLS with no additional advanced degree

72.9% of MLS-only holders were hired since 2000

2.70% 24.30%

29.70%

43.20%

MLS only (by year of hire)

1980-891990-992000-052006-10

ADVANCED DEGREES HELD

Doctorate MLS MLS + 2nd Masters

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

3.80%*

81.70%

38.50%0.144

0.058

w/ MLSColumn1

* possession of MLS unknown

ADVANCED DEGREE SUBJECTS (OTHER THAN THE MLS)

12.5% American or European History 7.7% MBA 6.7% Education 3.8% Public Administration 2.9%

English Latin American Studies

1.9% Music Economics Computer Science Art History

Less than 1% Agriculture, French, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Languages,

Theology, Anthropology, Government, Liberal Studies

DOCTORATE HOLDERS

25 total 1 MD 1 DPA 23 PhD or EdD

9 History 6 Education 3 Library Science 3 Unspecified 1 Economics

56% male 45% female all doctorate holders without MLS = male

INSTITUTIONS WITH DEANS OR DIRECTORS WITHOUT MLS

UC Berkeley Harvard Yale University of Michigan Library of Congress National Institute of Health

FURTHER RESEARCH

Regression analyses should be used to determine if there have been any changes in degrees of deans and directors hired in the last 40 years.

Further analysis needs to be done regarding the relationship between the degrees of the deans and directors and their other work experiences. Many of these librarians completed their degrees

in the 60s and 70s – it may be helpful to see what other experiences contributed to their success.

A comparison of the ARL deans with other types of institutions would present a more comprehensive picture.

FURTHER RESEARCH

None of the ARL Library deans and directors earned advanced degrees in the hard sciences. Do advanced studies in some subject areas provide better preparation than others?

Is there a relationship between advanced study subject area and type of institution?

ANY QUESTIONS?

Starr Hoffman, MLS, MA Librarian for Digital Collections Government Documents Department UNT Libraries PhD Student, Higher Education, UNT starr.hoffman@unt.edu

find my presentations & CV here: http://geekyartistlibrarian.wordpress.com

Annie Downey, MLS Instruction Unit Manager Research & Instruction Services UNT Libraries PhD Student, Higher Education, UNT annie.downey@unt.edu