College and Research Libraries Editorial Research and Respect The Association of College and Re- search Libraries' (ACRL) National Con- ference, "Continuity & Transformation: The Promise of Confluence" attracted a lively assortment of papers, poster ses- sions, conference speakers, and colleague- to-colleague discussions. This editorial re- counts two related concerns: the state of research in librarianship and the issue of respect. In these areas and others, librari- ans must rethink priorities and commit themselves anew to action. RESEARCH Larry Oberg, College and Research Li- braries Research Notes editor, and I par- ticipated with John Berry III of Library Journal and Library Hotline, GraceAnne DeCandido of Wilson Library Bulletin, and Patricia Glass Schuman of Neal Schuman Publishers in a McLaughlin- style panel moderated by James Neal to discuss "Library Publishing in the 90s: Future Generations Will Ask .... " The panel agreed that less research is being produced than is needed to meet future decision-making require- ments. All perceive that librarianship is changing rapidly and that the need for factual information upon which to base decisions has never been greater. Nevertheless, the pressures of every- day service during times of shrinking budgets and the continuing need to learn new technologies have reduced the production of research-based ar- ticles. From the audience, Don Riggs of the University of Michigan noted that 30.3 per~t of the papers presented at the ACRL conference in 1978 were re- search-based. However, since 1978, the percentage of research-based papers pre- sented at ACRL conferences has declined dramatically. Because the formal scholarly publica- tion system is slow and because the pace of change is fast, the panel discussed the place of listservs in an evolving scholar- ship communications system. GraceAnne DeCandido and her staff regularly review listservs for promising ideas. Authors are then contacted and ideas are developed into articles suitable for publication in Wilson Library Bulletin. Larry Oberg, who moderates the COLLIB-L list, be- lieves that such lists encourage both a practical and theoretical dialogue within college librarianship, a dialogue that would supplement our published litera- ture and allow for the continuation of discussions begun at associated confer- ences and professional workshops. John Berry emphasized that the lack of refe- reeing, reviewing, and editing makes this format a poor-substitute for a tradi- tional discipline literature. Librarians can start producing a more vital research literature by undertaking three incremental steps. First, promotion and tenure committees and administra- tors who evaluate both faculty and nonfaculty librarians should focus on quality rather than quantity. An article employing a rigorous research method- ology should receive significantly more credit than a case study. Second, library administrators must set aside modest amounts of money to support research projects. Librarians must design the studies, but money should be available for expenses, such as statistical assis- tance, data entry, and questionnaire mailings. Third, librarians must organ- ize formal and informal collegial forums 297 298 College & Research Libraries to discuss ideas, to sharpen research top- ics, and to review manuscripts. RESPECT Scholar Librarian In the "Introduction" to the Summer 1994 Library Trends issue on library direc- tors, Irene B. Hoadley says, "The scholar librarian is really a concept of the past."* With so much emphasis being placed on leading the library in a complex exter- nal environment, shifting to a profes- sional administrator, instead of a faculty member, making campus policy, and ex- panding development activities, the time . available for scholarship has been re- duced. On campuses everywhere, these same factors are changing the roles of deans in all colleges. Thus, not only is the time of the scholar librarian passing but also that of the scholar, dean, provost, and president. Having librarians with doctorates in other disciplines was a method for gain- ing respect from other faculty on cam- pus. Through years of reliable work with faculty and students, the library has achieved an enviable reputation among many faculty as a central part of the acad- emy. To maintain this campus position, library deans and directors must provide vision, inspiration, and direction in an increasingly complex environment. This means developing and maintaining ongo- ing dialogue and partnerships with fac- ulty and administrators across campus. Paraprofessionals Empowering library staff to partici- pate more fully in the library is an im- portant trend. Its advantages include better and quicker decision making on process issues, a more diverse input to problem resolution, and freeing librari- ans to develop new initiatives in instruc- tion, service, and research. Researchers July 1995 such as Larry Oberg report increased blurring between professional and para- professional/ staff roles. Unlike the issue over faculty status, where both sides are well matched and have carried on a rigorous public discus- sion, the issues between librarians and library staff have not been openly and honestly presented. Library staff, who are even less socialized to the scholarly process than librarians, have summa- rized their aspirations into a call for re- spect. Library staff want recognition for the value of the work performed. In most libraries, staff handle critical routine functions that are essential to smooth operations and that involve sensitive interactions with library users. Staff want the value of this work acknow- ledged. In addition, staff do not want to be treated disrespectfully just be- cause they don't have a master's de- gree in librarianship. It would be helpful to know what other issues are sheltered beneath that short word "re- spect." Many new techniques, such as decision centers where computers al- low individuals to participate equally without regard for rank, are now avail- able. A study that explores this subject would make a highly desirable addition to the literature of librarianship. Research and respect converge here. Trusting library staff to administer many library functions frees up librarian time for more research. Creating a meaning- ful literature to guide our decision mak- ing, providing vision and inspiration for librarians, and improving the working relationships within the library are some achievable results that can yield a brighter future. The editor wishes to thank Karyle Butcher and Larry Oberg for their assis- tance with this editorial. GLORIANA ST. CLAIR *Irene B. Hoadley, "Introduction," Library Trends 43 (Summer 1994): 8. For as low as $3,000 per year, you can have unlimited access to the PAIS International Database, the premier bibliographic index to public and social policy issues. Economical, fixed-fee pricing. With leased magnetic tapes, there's no need to worry about usage and teleconnect fees. Your users can search PAIS as often as they like, for as long as they like, all for one annual rate. Flexibility and ease of use. PAIS is compatible with most OPACs. 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