College and Research Libraries By J O H N F. H A R V E Y Variety in the Experience of Chief Librarians HO W M A N Y C H I E F L I B R A R I A N S HAVE worked as s t u d e n t assistants? H o w m a n y chief l i b r a r i a n s have seen how the o t h e r half lives a n d w o r k e d as profes- sional assistants or d e p a r t m e n t heads? H o w m a n y of the careers of chief li- b r a r i a n s have been e n r i c h e d by a variety of experience i n c l u d i n g work in o t h e r occupations, work in o t h e r kinds a n d sizes of libraries? I n p r e p a r i n g for library leadership, experience provides excellent t r a i n i n g . M c D i a r m i d has said, " T h e r e are three i m p o r t a n t factors in the d e v e l o p m e n t of library leaders: (1) personal qualities, (2) p r o p e r education, a n d (3) a d e q u a t e experience." 1 T h i s experience should be varied a n d should include good admin- istrative experience, according to Mc- D i a r m i d . B u t how m a n y p u b l i c a n d col- lege library a d m i n i s t r a t o r s have h a d such experience? H o w m a n y are well p r e p a r e d in this respect? T h i s article summarizes a larger study dealing w i t h the experience p a t t e r n s of librarians. D a t a were collected o n 629 college l i b r a r i a n s a n d 687 p u b l i c librar- ians, all of w h o m were chief librarians. Senior college a n d university librarians, county, a n d p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s were in- cluded. D a t a were collected f r o m the bi- ographies i n Who's Who in Library Service. I n essence, this article will at- t e m p t to describe the e x t e n t to w h i c h 1,316 chief l i b r a r i a n s h a d a variety of experience. 1 E . W. McDiarmid, "Place of Experience in De- veloping College and University Librarians," Library Quarterly, X I I ( 1 9 4 2 ) , 614. Dr. Harvey is Librarian, State Teach- ers College, Pittsburg, Kansas. T h e first section will describe the va- riety of p r e p a r a t o r y experience enjoyed by the chief librarians in o t h e r occupa- tions, in non-administrative work, a n d in o t h e r kinds of libraries, position levels, a n d library sizes. K I N D OF W O R K M O B I L I T Y How many had worked in other oc- cupations? Since the study f o u n d the li- b r a r i a n s to average twenty-six (college) a n d twenty-four (public) years of age u p o n taking the first professional library position, it is obvious t h a t they spent some time in their early twenties in some o t h e r line of work. As a m a t t e r of fact, these librarians, in their first f u l l time positions, were w o r k i n g outside li- b r a r i a n s h i p in nearly one-third (public) a n d one-half (college) of the cases. Con- sequently, the chances were n o b e t t e r t h a n two in t h r e e for p u b l i c a n d one in two for college l i b r a r i a n s t h a t librarian- ship was the first o c c u p a t i o n a l choice. I n fact, a few l i b r a r i a n s h a d several jobs in o t h e r fields; 101 of the 1,316 li- b r a r i a n s were still in a n o t h e r field in their t h i r d f u l l time position. Average n u m b e r s of years spent in o t h e r fields were 4.7 for college a n d 1.8 for p u b l i c librarians. I n all, 55 per cent of the college li- b r a r i a n s a n d 37 per cent of t h e p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s worked in o t h e r fields. O v e r o n e - f o u r t h of the college l i b r a r i a n s a n d one-sixth of the p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s h a d h a d two or m o r e positions in o t h e r fields, showing a sizable m i n o r i t y to have h a d a variety of work outside li- b r a r i a n s h i p . What kinds of work were performed? MARCH 1958 107- Positions in the e d u c a t i o n world, wheth- er h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , elementary, or sec- o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n d o m i n a t e d . T w o of every five college a n d o n e of every f o u r p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s h a d worked in the edu- cation field. Business a n d o t h e r fields trailed w i t h only a b o u t o n e in seven li- b r a r i a n s w o r k i n g in these fields. T e a c h - ing in h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n was most popu- lar w i t h college librarians, since one- f o u r t h h a d d o n e this, while teaching in e l e m e n t a r y or secondary school was most p o p u l a r w i t h p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s since one-fifth h a d d o n e t h a t . T h e emphasis o n e d u c a t i o n is n o t surprising since t h e agencies most closely related in f u n c t i o n to libraries are e d u c a t i o n agencies. K I N D O F L I B R A R Y W O R K Had experience been enriched with a variety of work in several different li- brary departments? Variety of experi- ence was n o t extensive in terms of hav- ing worked in f u l l time positions in various types of library work (catalog- ing, children's, acquisitions, etc.). M o r e t h a n half of b o t h g r o u p s h a d p e r f o r m e d only o n e type of library work, adminis- t r a t i o n . However, a f o u r t h h a d h a d ex- perience in two kinds of library work a n d a seventh h a d p e r f o r m e d three or m o r e kinds of library work. For the av- erage l i b r a r i a n , this was n o t the varied experience which was considered desir- able. Most of the various kinds of li- b r a r y work h a d never been p e r f o r m e d by these librarians, at least o n a f u l l time basis. For b o t h college a n d p u b l i c librarians, the two most p o p u l a r kinds of work p e r f o r m e d , in a d d i t i o n to ad- m i n i s t r a t i o n , were reference a n d cata- loging. C i r c u l a t i o n work a n d children's work (for p u b l i c librarians) followed for small minorities. If there were edu- cational advantages in h a v i n g worked in several di fferent kinds of library work, most of these l i b r a r i a n s lacked t h e m . K I N D S O F L I B R A R I E S How many had worked in several kinds of libraries? Less t h a n half, only 44 per cent, h a d worked in m o r e t h a n one k i n d of library (public, school, spe- cial, etc.). A n d only a b o u t a t e n t h h a d w o r k e d in three or m o r e different kinds of libraries. T h e b a r r i e r of k i n d of li- brary was a p p a r e n t l y a difficult o n e to j u m p . In what kinds of libraries had they worked? B o t h college a n d p u b l i c library g r o u p s were represented in each of the five k i n d s of libraries studied—college, public, school, g o v e r n m e n t , a n d special. T h e r e was no type in which some h a d n o t worked. Aside f r o m h a v i n g worked in college libraries, the largest g r o u p of college librarians, 40 per cent, or almost half, h a d w o r k e d in p u b l i c libraries. Only a b o u t o n e in n i n e h a d worked in e i t h e r school or g o v e r n m e n t libraries, a n d only o n e in twenty in special libraries. P u b l i c librarians, aside f r o m h a v i n g worked in p u b l i c libraries, h a d w o r k e d most fre- q u e n t l y in college libraries. A b o u t a t h i r d h a d worked there, one-seventh each in g o v e r n m e n t a n d school libraries, a n d one-eleventh in special libraries. P O S I T I O N L E V E L How varied was experience at dif- ferent position levels? T h e s e chief li- b r a r i a n s h a d e n j o y e d a greater variety of experience in terms of position level (chief l i b r a r i a n , assistant l i b r a r i a n , de- p a r t m e n t head, etc.) t h a n they h a d in most of the o t h e r categories e x a m i n e d . T w o - t h i r d s of the college l i b r a r i a n s h a d worked at two or m o r e position levels a n d three-fourths of the p u b l i c librar- ians h a d d o n e this. As m a n y as two- fifths of these l i b r a r i a n s h a d worked at three or m o r e position levels. Of course, all of these l i b r a r i a n s h a d been chief librarians, the position level at which all were w o r k i n g w h e n the d a t a were col- 108 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES lected. Experience at o t h e r position levels was well scattered. For college librarians, the second most f r e q u e n t level was t h a t of assistant l i b r a r i a n (in- volving 28 per cent), a n d for p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s it was the professional assist- a n t level (51 per cent). Position level immediately prior to taking chief librarian's position. A t w h a t levels h a d these librarians worked im- mediately before their chief l i b r a r i a n ' s positions? H a d this experience b e e n in positions which w o u l d prove h e l p f u l to a chief librarian? O n e - f o u r t h of the col- lege a n d o n e - n i n t h of the p u b l i c librar- ians h a d n o t been in library work at all in these previous positions. Instead, they h a d taken over as heads of libraries w i t h n o previous library experience. A b o u t one-fifth of the college a n d three- tenths of the p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s h a d been working as chief librarians, excellent experience. One-sixth of the college a n d o n e - f o u r t h of the p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s h a d previously worked as professional as- sistants. I n searching f u r t h e r for a n answer to the q u e s t i o n a b o u t experience before h e a d i n g libraries, it w o u l d be desirable to ascertain the i m p o r t a n c e of the mid- dle a d m i n i s t r a t i v e ranks in p r o v i d i n g experience f o r f u t u r e administrators. Ideally, according to M c D i a r m i d , the l i b r a r i a n ' s career should show experi- ence at a m i d d l e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r a n k before he u n d e r t a k e s a t o p level posi- tion. 2 However, only o n e - f o u r t h of these l i b r a r i a n s h a d been w o r k i n g in the m i d d l e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e ranks (assistant l i b r a r i a n or d e p a r t m e n t head) in pre- vious positions. O n the o t h e r h a n d , w i t h the fact t h a t a n o t h e r f o u r t h h a d been chief librarians, we can conclude t h a t half h a d been w o r k i n g previously in an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e position of some kind, a n d this is p r o b a b l y as h i g h a percent- age as we can expect. 2 Ibid., pp. 620-621. S I Z E O F L I B R A R Y Librarians who had worked in more than one size of library. Almost half of the college l i b r a r i a n s a n d a t h i r d of the p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s h a d worked in only one size of library. But, one-fifth (col- lege) a n d three-tenths (public) of these chief l i b r a r i a n s h a d w o r k e d in three or more library sizes. T h e average l i b r a r i a n h a d worked in either one or two of the f o u r size groups used, w i t h p u b l i c librar- ians having h a d a greater variety of ex- perience t h a n h a d college librarians. For p u b l i c librarians, work was well di- vided a m o n g the f o u r library sizes, b u t emphasized the small sizes for college librarians. P E R S O N A L C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S T h i s section will describe two interest- ing sidelights o n experience: the per- sonal characteristics of librarians w i t h varied experience a n d the a d v a n c e m e n t levels they achieved. C a n we identify those l i b r a r i a n s w h o h a d h a d a greater variety of experience by their personal characteristics? Sex. T h e sex differential was most i m p o r t a n t . T h o s e w i t h a variety of ex- perience always included a significantly higher percentage of m e n t h a n of women. T h i s held for b o t h college a n d p u b l i c librarians. T h e r e f o r e , in this sense, there is n o question b u t t h a t m e n were b e t t e r p r e p a r e d by their experience for a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d for top-level po- sitions t h a n were women, n o m a t t e r how capable they were, n o r how m u c h in- nate ability they may have h a d . Marital Status. M a r i t a l status also dis- tinguished between those w i t h a variety of experience a n d those w i t h o u t , t h o u g h n o t as well as d i d sex. For the most part, the most mobile were to be t h o u g h t of as m a r r i e d males a n d the least m o b i l e as single females. Education. Years of schooling or type of library school a t t e n d e d was f r e q u e n t - MARCH 195 S 109> ly a good way of i d e n t i f y i n g those w i t h or w i t h o u t a variety of experience. T h e m o r e years of schooling, or the fact of h a v i n g a t t e n d e d a T y p e I library school (offering two or m o r e years of school- ing) was usually a distinguishing factor. Experience. W e r e those w i t h a greater variety of experience also the ones w h o h a d h a d m o r e t h a n average years of ex- perience? W e r e variety a n d e x t e n t of experience highly correlated? Yes, they were. Years of library experience was closely associated w i t h variety of experi- ence. H o w h i g h in the a d v a n c e m e n t levels of the profession were these two g r o u p s of librarians? W e r e those w i t h varied experience in " b e t t e r " positions w h e n t h e d a t a were collected, t h a n those w i t h m o r e l i m i t e d experience? T h e answer was "yes." Variety of experience a n d a d v a n c e m e n t level in the profession cor- r e l a t e d positively. T h o s e chief l i b r a r i a n s w i t h m o r e varied experience were f o u n d in the m o r e responsible positions. T h o s e w i t h less varied experience were typi- cally f o u n d in the p o o r e r positions. T h e college a n d p u b l i c chief librar- ians in this study h a d h a d relatively little experience in terms of variety. T h e y scored b e t t e r in the areas of k i n d of work, position level, a n d library size, a n d worse in k i n d of library work a n d k i n d of library. I n most of these cate- gories, the typical l i b r a r i a n h a d worked in n o m o r e t h a n o n e o t h e r k i n d of po- sition b e y o n d his latest position, a n d for some categories, n o t even t h a t . Several personal characteristics were identified f o r the g r o u p s as well as their standings in t h e a d v a n c e m e n t levels of the pro- fession. T h e s e librarians, since they h a d h a d such l i m i t e d experience, were not, f o r the most p a r t , well t r a i n e d in variety of experience. N o r were the l i b r a r i a n s in t h e smaller g r o u p e x a m i n e d by McDiar- m i d . 3 T h e y h a d reached a d m i n i s t r a t i v e positions of responsibility w i t h o u t the benefit of a n e n r i c h i n g variety of ex- perience. However, a m i n o r i t y of this g r o u p h a d h a d varied experience, in some cases, q u i t e varied, a n d we may be t h a n k f u l f o r this m i n o r i t y . 3 Ibid., pp. 616-617. National Union Catalog—Subscription Price 1958-1962 T h e cost of a n n u a l subscriptions to The National Union Catalog has been set at $260 a year f o r the n e x t five years. As in the two preceding years, t h e r e will be a single subscription price covering all issues—month- lies, quarterlies, a n d a n n u a l cumulations, i n c l u d i n g the following two parts, Library of Congress Catalog—Motion Pictures and Filmstrips a n d Music and Phonorecords. T h e price of all subscriptions will be the same regardless of the n u m b e r of copies p u r c h a s e d by any single i n s t i t u t i o n . Subscriptions should be directed to: C a r d Division, L i b r a r y of Congress, W a s h i n g t o n 25, D.C. T h e price may be charged against the accounts of subscribers to the card service; others m u s t pay in advance by check or money o r d e r m a d e payable to t h e Chief of the C a r d Division, L i b r a r y of Congress. T h e q u i n q u e n n i a l c u m u l a t i o n will be priced separately, as usual. 110 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES