The Rest of the Story: Education, Training, and Career Development of Non-MLS Heads of Access Services in Academic Libraries

Abstract

A recent study explored the education and training needs of heads of access services in academic libraries. However the study left several critical questions unanswered. For example, the study only focused on heads of access services that hold the MLS (or equivalent) degree. We know that many heads, coordinators, and supervisors of access services do not have the MLS degree. Before any long-term action could be taken to improve the education and training of heads of access services, the needs of this key constituency must be taken into account. This presentation will report preliminary data from a recent survey that looked at the education and training needs of those heads of access services who do not have the MLS degree as well as their career trajectories, and discuss the implications of this research including ways the access services community can assist in training and developing future access services leaders.