The Educational Possibilities of Peer and Shared Governance in Academic Libraries

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Envisioning the Future: Shifting and Lifting Possibilities in Higher Education (Table 28)

Abstract

This paper explores the educational possibilities of peer and shared governance among academic librarians. This article adopts the conceptual argument that university administrators and educators have divergent aims, which necessitates that educators are evaluated by peers with shared aims rather than administrators. We consider the role of peer governance in library collections, instruction, personnel decisions, and university decision-making. The paper outlines threats to peer governance in libraries including administrative opposition, siloed university units, political influences, and fear among librarians.

Authors

• Sarah Rose Fitzgerald, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Therese Kaufman, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Jaime Taylor, University of Massachusetts - Amherst