Academic library employees and their work modality options and preferences

Abstract

This paper discusses results from an autumn 2022 survey of academic library employees in the United States regarding their work modality options and preferences. The study found that more than three-quarters of participants have the option of remote or hybrid work options on a regular basis and that similar numbers of faculty and staff have these options. Remote work frequency for participants with remote/hybrid work options varied. The study's examination of participants' work modality preferences reveals that a total of 51 % prefer to work mostly remotely (i.e., at least three or more days per week remotely) and a total of 49 % prefer to work mostly on site (i.e., only one or two days per week remotely, at most). Notably, only 4 % of participants indicated that they prefer to work on site every day. In addition, participants' reasons for preferring either remote or on-site work were examined, and several trends were identified. The findings from this study have implications for work conditions in U.S. academic libraries and provide insights into the shifting landscape of this segment of the workforce. The paper further contributes to the larger literature on remote work and its significance in the American workplace.