Flourishing School Library Faculty Members: Understanding Academic Workload

Abstract

Faculty members engage in research, teaching, service, and administration and are expected to excel in all areas to be awarded tenure and promotion. There is a disconnect between expectations and realities for school library faculty members in terms of teaching, research, service and administration. Consistent with previous research, school library faculty members work long hours. Individual goals, discretionary power, and collective good come into conflict in different ways at different stages of a career. This study also provides a starting point for others interested in examining and comparing academic work in different disciplines. Potential and current school library faculty may use the findings to inform career decisions, e.g., entry to the profession, career progression, and mentorship.