Academic librarians and the pursuit of tenure: The support group as a strategy for success

Abstract

Faculty status with the accompanying quest for tenure is a fact of life for three out of four academic librarians, and achieving tenure is a tough proposition. Most librarians have not received extensive training in research methodology, their work schedules lack flexibility, and they usually have limited access to research funds. Given these constraints, the support and assistance of colleagues is crucial, and the establishment of an informal tenure support group can provide a mechanism for discussing common concerns and channeling efforts toward finding effective solutions.