Academic Library Administrators’ Perceptions of Four Instructional Skills

Abstract

This study seeks to fill a gap in the literature by examining the perceptions of current administrators toward four domains and their associated skill sets needed to fulfill the library's instructional role. Hundreds of Library Directors/Deans/Associate Deans/Heads in academic libraries of all sizes across the United States were surveyed to determine to what extent they value the skill sets associated with the four selected instructional skill domains: two traditional-teaching and presentation-and two more recently adopted by librarians-instructional design and educational technology. The findings of this research indicate that library administrators value the traditional skill sets more than the newer nontraditional skills. The results and possible implications, as well as directions future studies can take, are discussed.

Evolving academic library specialties

“…The inadequate preparation of LIS graduates for their instructional work is a recurring theme, with practitioners criticizing both educators and employers for not giving sufficient attention to the development of pedagogical knowledge and skills (Albrecht & Baron, ; Bewick & Corrall, ; Shank & Dewald, ; Sproles et al., ; Westbrock & Fabian, ). Professional identity is another key theme: In his exploration of “teacher identity” among librarians, Walter (, p. 55) notes the need to distinguish “between learning to teach and becoming a teacher.” Existing research suggests a need for further investigation of the content and value of existing professional education offerings for teaching librarians, along with exploration of mentoring for new teachers and investigation of the significance of disciplinary knowledge in establishing credibility as a teacher.…”

Blending In: Collaborating with an Instructor in an Online Course

“…An advantage is that library links or research guides appear in the CMS workspace-students don't have to look for them elsewhere. 18 Also, these links allow more interactivity during the in-person session than listening to a lecture. librarians differ along institutional and interpersonal lines.…”

Information Literacy Instruction and Assessment in a Community College: A Collaborative Design

“…Shank and Dewald (2012) concluded in their study on academic library administrators that they prefer traditional skills such as presentation and teaching versus the use of new emerging instructional design and educational technology skills. The uses of educational technology in an era where online/Web-based technologies indicate the increasing importance of the Internet in the instructional role of the academic library is mandatory.…”