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8/14/2019 Formulas Walsh 4
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Formulas: Walsh assignment #4 1
Running Head: FORMULAS: WALSH ASSIGNMENT #4
Formulas for Management:
Exploring Management Models for Science Librarians
Maura K. Walsh
Emporia State University
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Abstract
This research plan envisions a document analysis of current publications that examine
management models for science libraries. It outlines a proposal consisting of a structured
interview of a specially targeted expert panel from three universities that will help define the
search terms for the document analysis that follows. It is hoped that the study would not only
clarify what material is available currently, but also highlight any gaps in current
documentation in this field in order to show which future research could be most beneficial.
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Introduction
Although the library of brick and mortar still clearly exists, external factors are causing a
paradigm shift from a more traditional hierarchical management structure to a networking-style,
flatter system. In this current state it becomes increasingly important to have a clear picture of
our preferred future, where we want our libraries to go and how we want them to develop.
Perhaps management has never had such a crucial role. Nowhere is that more evident than in the
academic library.
One type of library within the academic world is the science library. These libraries have special
operations and circumstances that make them distinct. They serve a unique subset within the
university community and they have a heightened need for timely materials. The spiraling costs
of electronic journals and database access can also play particular havoc in science departments
where historical documents are of little or limited use in educating todays students or supporting
faculty research and development.
This research project will attempt to find out which management models being advocated in
professional writings are being adapted by science librarians in academic libraries, and whether
they are actually gaining access to the information they need. Library management, which
includes planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the day to day working of the library, is
key to the smooth operation of the library and its ability to serve its patrons. A document analysis
based on the important input from librarians actually working as science librarians will help
make this assessment of current trends a valuable tool for these professionals and may even
highlight some of the needs that are not currently being covered in professional literature, thus
pointing the way for valuable future research that may help management and leadership choose
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the best options in management.
Research Questions
How do contemporary publications meet needs for management in science libraries? What do
science librarians consider the most important needs in management practices? Are there any
gaps between what is published, what is reaching the librarians and/or what is wanted?
Limitations
This study will not include an exhaustive selection of librarians but only a carefully selected
expert panel from three different universities academic libraries. Also, due to the expressed need
to find what is readily available and being discussed in publications currently, the documents
analyzed will be limited to those published in the last two years (2006 2008).
Literature Review
Although I have not been able to find as many sources as I wished that pertain only to the world
of science libraries, my evaluation of this is twofold. First, the issues being examined here do not
necessarily pertain only to the science library. Management models like those discussed in Hatch
(2006) can also be applied to science libraries. Going outside of the narrower confines of this
world may prove to be advantageous and allow us to examine these management issues with
fresh eyes by exploring them using viewpoints more common to other fields.
Second, perhaps this paucity of material is a sign that the present study is all the more
worthwhile in a fast changing area and will therefore be useful to many who are at present
working in science libraries or as science librarians. Kurt Lewin judged that there is nothing so
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practical as a good theory (Hatch, 2006 p. 295). Perhaps adapting or expanding these theories
will give new tools to librarians.
In Academic Libraries: Should Strategic Planning be Renewed? (2007)Brown and Gonzalez
examine some of these same management questions through the lens of strategic planning and
conclude that very little empirical evidence has been shared and that seeking the advice of
experts is one of the few reference sources available. The very interesting Leadership of
Academic Libraries: A Literature Review by Weiner (2003) addresses the characteristics of
leadership in academic libraries. She examines questions of philosophy and vision, the bigger
picture as it were, without ignoring the more mundane like staff recruitment and serials
management. She states that
it is clear that many aspects have not been addressed and that a comprehensive
body of cohesive, evidence-based research is needed. There is a dearth of
published studies or dissertations that relate leadership to effectiveness of library
directors, their organizations, or outcomes (Weiner, 2003, p.18)
Business management models also give a glimpse of intriguing ideas that could be
translated to the library world. At the 25th conference of the International Association of
Technological University Libraries (IATUL) in 2004, Professor Prof. Egbert Gerryts, the
Director of Academic Information Service at the University of Pretoria in South Africa,
and a longtime member of and advocate for IATUL recommended using the Balanced
Scorecard. This is a business management system designed to allow users to clarify their
vision and strategy and translate them into action. It allows the internal processes to be
balanced with external outcomes in order to promote improvement. He advocated it as a
model to lead and manage library transformation, the most important challenge in
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contemporary librarianship (ISTL, 2004).
Examining listserves and blogs shows a certain amount of inquietude about some of the
very practical subjects involved in science library management like fundraising,
collection development, managing budgets, communicating with the greater academic
community and evaluating and affording electronic sources.
Population and Setting
Three universities have been chosen as representative of different fields and levels of science
education in the hopes of being able to assemble a useful expert panel to provide the input
needed for the document analysis that will follow. The first libraries are at a large state university
(39,524 students) in an urban setting with medical and dental schools, aeronautical and
engineering programs and traditional hard sciences at both graduate and undergraduate levels. In
2004 it was awarded the Academic Libraries Award, which recognizes the top university research
library in the country. There are 47 science librarians employed at the university.
The second library is also a large state university (23,655 students) with important science
programs in agriculture and veterinary medicine. It has specialized libraries for both of these
programs. It is located in a rather isolated rural community and has 23 science librarians.
The third is a private liberal arts undergraduate college with one of the highest acceptance rates
in the nation for their students in graduate programs in science, including medical and
engineering schools. It is a small college (1,500 students) with a large library that employs 19
librarians, all officially classified as generalists, but three specifically serve the science
departments.
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Methodology
From the universities described above a representative selection of librarians will be chosen to
form the expert panel. Every effort will be made to select librarians who come from distinct
fields within the sciences and different levels within the libraries organizations. After pre-
selecting these subjects, they will each be sent an email outlining the studys objectives and
structure and inviting their participation. This method of approach is an attempt to make the
librarians feel more comfortable with the interview, give them time to consider the topic without
exertion and assure them that their responses will have great significance.
After obtaining consent from them, a short structured interview of 5 -10 minutes will be
conducted by telephone. This information will be directly entered into an Excel program set up
to be able to capture that data and with spaces for impromptu comments. Using a headset will
make it easy to enter the data while conducting the interview.
The publications sited by the librarians will become the basis of the literature review, although it
is also important not to limit it to those publications. Using the key words and phrases from the
specialty publications cited by the librarians it will then be fairly simple to cross check and see if
other academic publications in business or library science may also contain useful information
about management.
Hopefully the results, which will be both quantitative and qualitative, will indicate what further
research may be most useful to these librarians as well as giving a good picture of the
information currently available to them. Some of the key publications that may be useful to this
study are listed in Appendix B.
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Research Schedule and budget
Timeline
2008 May June July
Augus
t
Septe
mber
Write researchproposal
Contact targetsubjects Conduct
interviews
Compile results Conduct
document
analysis Analyze findings
Write first draft
Revise Submit for
approval
Since I anticipate doing all the work myself, I have not budgeted any costs. I hope to submit
the results toCindy Stewart Kaag, head of Science Libraries at Washington State University,
to see if she considers it would be useful to publish or as the basis for another investigation.
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References
ACRL, (2007, May 15). Science and technology section. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from Publications:
STS Signal Web site:
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/aboutacrl/acrlsections/sciencetech/stspublications/stssignal.cfm
ALA, (2008, January 31). ALA Mailing List Service. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from ACRL Science &
Technology Section Discussion List Web site: http://lists.ala.org/wws/arc/sts-l/2008-
01/msg00059.html
Anonymous, (2008, March 31 ). Your Science Librarians' Blog. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from Web site:
http://your-science-librarians-blog.blogspot.com/
Bellinger, G (2004). Leadership & management: A structural perspective. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from
Mental Model Musings Web site: http://www.systems-thinking.org/lamasp/lamasp.htm
Blaxter, L., Hughes, C., & Tight, M. (2006).How to research. Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: Open
University Press.
Brown,.A., & Blake, B.A. (2007). Academic libraries: Should strategic planning be renewed?. Technical
Services Quarterly. v. 24 no. 3, 1-14.
Dupuis , J (2008, March 31 ). Confessions of a science librarian . Retrieved April 1, 2008, from Web
site: http://jdupuis.blogspot.com/
Hatch, M. J. (2006). Organization theory: Modern, symbolic and postmodern perspectives. Oxford, UK:
Oxford University Press.
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ISTL, (2004). Library management in a changing environment: 25th IATUL Conference. Retrieved
April 1, 2008, from Conference reports Web site: http://www.istl.org/04-summer/conf2.html
ISTL, (2006, July 5). Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship. Retrieved April 1, 2008, from
Archives Web site: http://www.istl.org/previous.html
Partington, D. (2002).Essential skills for management research. London, UK: Sage Publications.
Weiner, S (2003).Leadership of academic libraries: A literature review.Education Libraries. v. 26 no. 2,
5-18.
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Appendix A
Structured interview protocol:
What management issues concern you?
What professional publications do you read?
Which publications have you found to be most helpful?
Are there any noticeable gaps in available management information?
Are there any authors in the field that you would particularly recommend?
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Appendix B
Professional JournalsUrban
Academic Librarian
Training and Education
Teacher Librarian
Library Trends
College & Research Libraries
Library Management
Library Administration &
Management
Library & Information Science
Research
Journal of Library Administration
College & Undergraduate Libraries
The Journal of Academic
Librarianship
International Library Review
College & Research Libraries News
Evidence Based Library and
Information Practice
British Journal of Academic
Librarianship
Science & Technology Libraries
Resource Sharing and Information
Networks
Quarterly Bulletin of the
International Association of
Agricultural Information Specialists
Medical Reference Services
Quarterly
New Review of Academic
Librarianship
Advanced Technology Libraries
American Libraries
These titles or similar would be the kind of books included in the literature review:
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Beyond the Basics: A Management Guide for Library and Information Professionals, G.
Edward Evans
Learn Library Management A Practical Study Guide for New or Busy Managers in
Libraries and Other Information Agencies, Bob Pymm and Damon D. Hickey
Strategic Planning and Management for Library Managers, Joseph Matthews
Managing in the Information Age, Ann E. Prentice