Iowa Academic Librarian Survey: An ACRL Chapter Perspective

Abstract

<p>Who are we? Why do we do what we do? What should we be doing? These are questions many organizations ask themselves at some point in their existence. The Iowa Chapter of ACRL recently completed a study of its members and developed a strategic planning documents based on the National ACRL Survey and Strategic Plan. A survey of forty-five multiple choice questions and five short answer questions was sent to 409 academic librarians and other academic library staff and 230 surveys were returned for a response rate of 56%. The characteristics of academic librarians in Iowa are similar to the national profile. In Iowa the academic librarian is female (73%), 31-50 years old (55%), has a MLS degree (60%), and works in a research institution library (40%). Nationally, the academic librarian is female (62.5%), 31-50 years old (56%), has a MLS degree (88%), and works in a research institution library (51%). In addition, the survey inquired into the types and level of participation in professional organizations, opinions about some issues of current interest to the Iowa Chapter, and comments about the value of participation in professional organizations. The results of this survey provided a profile of a typical academic librarian in Iowa and formed the basis for the Iowa ACRL'S strategic plan.</p>