Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

A modest dress, hair in a bun, glasses on a chain, a bothered expression and the only thing missing is a shushing finger and a stack of books.

Like most professionals, librarians are subject to stereotypes. But there are at least two sides to academic librarians, one side that goes unseen. A January University of Kansas ScholarWorks publication shows that academic librarians have an equal duty of classroom teaching as other library jobs.

Scott Walter, assistant dean of libraries for information and instructional services, began interviewing Washington State University librarians two years ago. He said he found that every interviewed librarian identified themselves as teachers, what he refers to as having a teacher identity.

“The study was prompted by my observation that instructional responsibilities have increased dramatically for librarians over the past decade,” Walter said.

Walter said if a librarian has a strong sense of himself as a teacher, he is more likely to be successful at it. This suggests that librarians with a teacher identity will thrive at teaching instead of researching.

One of the questions Walter asked in the interviews dealt with how librarians felt they were perceived on campus. They said they felt their teaching was not well-known by other faculty and that students were generally surprised by what they do.

“How one thinks of one’s self as a teacher can affect everything from successful induction into the profession to effectiveness in the classroom to the ability to cope with change and to implement new practices in one’s instructional work,” Walter said.

Like professors, librarians are required to teach students. Academic librarians must have a Master of Library Science degree but are not required to take any education curriculum.

Bill Myers, director of library development and spokesperson for KU libraries, said, “Some librarians, and this is more prevalent among those who work in universities, hold master's degrees in other disciplines in addition to the MLS.”

According to Walter’s research, since 1999, KU librarians have taught more than 720 academic classes to nearly 10,500 students annually on average. Walter found that the academic librarians felt unprepared for the teaching responsibilities after completing professional school.

Librarians consistently teach more than 500 classes a year.

Walter said, “One conclusion that I found that I wasn’t looking for or expecting was that the librarians overwhelmingly criticized their graduate preparation. They weren’t told they’d have to teach classes, they were only trained to do research.”

Walter said these findings emphasized the importance of telling librarians their exact roles when they first get a job.

“I uncovered a number of themes that have relevance for professional education and professional development programs for librarians, including the importance of introducing people becoming librarians today to the likely significance of their teaching role when they get their first professional position,” Walter said.

The daily tasks of librarians are varied. Myers said they select materials to be put into the libraries, help faculty researches find sources, answer student questions and help them find information, and teach graduate classes.

“Virtually everything that a KU librarian does is related to helping students and faculty find the information they need to support their academic work, whether learning, teaching, researching, or creating,” Myers said.