Faculty perceptions of librarians at the University of Manitoba

Abstract

In early 1985, the faculty at the University of Manitoba were asked to complete a questionnaire exploring their perceptions of the academic librarians on campus. The responses were analyzed according to faculties grouped in five large disciplines and professorial ranks. The analysis of the data focused on faculty-librarian contacts, the usefulness of librarians, the importance of librarians' academic subject background, and their status. Overwhelmingly, librarians were seen as "professionals" with a "service" function. Activities such as research, teaching, and management received low ratings. The results therefore indicate a low acceptance of librarians as full-fledged academic colleagues in the University of Manitoba setting.