A bit dated, but a useful reference would be:
Field, Clive D.
Theory and Practice: Reflections on Convergence in United Kingdom
Universities
http://liber.library.uu.nl/publish/articles/000426/article.pdf
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Prof Bruce Royan http://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceroyan
41 Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh, EH10 4BL, Scotland, UK
+44 131 4473151 +44 77 1374 4731
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-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and
discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of TREW FRANK
Sent: 05 August 2009 10:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Who runs your library?
Dear colleagues,
Can anyone offer any advice, or point me in the direction of
advice/recommendations, on the professional status of the
person who heads up the library service. I realise that ultimately in all
institutions we probably have to report to someone
in senior management who is not a library professional. But is it the case
in your institutions that the person running the
library is not a library professional? And in the cases of merged library/IT
services where the director may be more of an IT
professional, is it the case that there is still a library professional who
reports on behalf of the library?
There is a proposal here at my own institution to remove the position of
university/head/chief librarian and have all
library staff report to the Registrar who is not a library professional and,
to be honest, knows nothing about running a
university library.
Can you offer any advice on the arguments that might be used to justify why
a librarian heading up the library is essential?
E.g. would it make our university seem second rate or damage the reputation
of the university if the non-professional
were to take charge (responsible for strategic plans, monitoring
performance, assessment, budgets, staffing etc)?
Any help or pointers you can offer would be gratefully appreciated :-)
Frank Trew
University Librarian
Richmond: the American International University in London
Queens Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6JP
020-8332-8297
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