Relational practice of Canadian academic librarians: Exploratory content analysis using relational-cultural theory

Abstract

There is increasing recognition that relational practice, such as building community, empathy, and team building, is an important facet for Canadian academic librarians. This study measures the visibility of relational practice of Canadian academic librarians. Job postings from The Partnership Job Board were collected for a six-month period beginning in July 2021. Job postings were analyzed using deductive content analysis, utilizing a framework based on relational-cultural theory (Arellano Douglas & Gadsby, 2019; Fletcher, 1998). The framework identifies relational practice as falling into four categories: preserving, mutual empowerment, emotional strategizing, and creating team. While there is mention of relational practice in the job postings, further visibility is needed to accurately reflect this aspect of Canadian academic librarian work. Emotional strategizing (51.7 % of job postings with one or more mention) and creating team (47.2 %) are the most visible relational practices, while preserving (7.9 %) is hardly mentioned. There is far less mutual empowerment for practicing librarians (9 %) compared to librarians in management positions (57 %). The visibility of relational practice increases as the highest credential offered at the post-secondary institution increases, however this trend is not seen for mutual empowerment at Canadian Ph.D./doctorate-granting institutions. There is a need to increase visibility of relational practice with more frequent inclusion in academic librarian job postings and job descriptions, inclusion in the review, tenure, and promotion process, and identification together with clear communication of the value of relational practice.