Survey of Academic Library Leadership, Plans for Student Employees of the Library

Survey of Academic Library Leadership, Plans for Student Employees of the Library

The entire sample has a mean of 13.61 and a median of 11.00 student workers, with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 45. The data suggests a strong recovery from the prior pandemic year with overall employment increasing by approximately 41%. Recovery was particularly sharp by the research universities in the sample, which increased mean employment by more than

100%, far more than for other types of institution. Also, the largest institutions in the sample, any with more than 4,200 students (though the median in this group is more than 15,000) also increased employment far more rapidly, also

by more than 100%, than smaller institutions. The data suggests that the larger and more research institutions mor

e or less returned to “normal” levels of employment, though this did not appear to be the case with smaller or less

research intensive organizations.

This study presents data from a survey of 54 academic library directors and other high-level officials of academic libraries, about their current practices and future plans for student employees.  The study presents time series data for spending on student workers in the library for the 2021-22, 2022-23 and projected for the 2023-24 academic years, as well as employment head count totals.  It also gives detailed data on the demographic profile of student library workers, defining the percentage that are graduate students, upperclassmen, lower classmen or foreign students.  Respondents also discuss the impact of the pandemic on student library employment and how it has or not changed the utilization of student workers in the library; respondents also discuss their plans for the future.