Academic Librarians: Perceptions of the acculturation process

Abstract

This project is not intended to be part of the debate concerning faculty status for academic librarians, but rather is an investigation of librarians in an institution where faculty status is the norm. The purpose was to identify factors in the actual experiences of faculty librarians in a particular environment. A qualitative research design was used to illicit personal experiences and understandings from individuals. Insights from these real people might serve to improve the environments within which librarians function. Through the analysis of extended individual and focus group interviews common factors and perceptions emerged. The experiences and perceptions of a dozen librarians, tenured and not-yet-tenured, provided a framework within which to make recommendations concerning specific ways that library administrators and individual librarians might actively contribute to the acculturation of new faculty librarians. The naturalistic research design provided a positive forum for discussion and communication among the librarians involved.