Dissertation Information for William Loewy Cohn NAME: - William Loewy Cohn
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Florida State University (USA) (1972)
ADVISORS: - John Milford Goudeau
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Harold Goldstein - Wayne L. Schroeder - Ronald D. Blazek
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: FACTORS IN THE CAREER DECISIONS AND POSITION CHOICES BY THE DIRECTORS OF LIBRARIES AT THE STATE-SUPPORTED SENIOR COLLEGES OF FLORIDA
Abstract: This study was an examination of thefactors which prompted librarians to enter library science and to adopt the various positions which have culminated in the directorships at the nine state-supported senior colleges of Florida. It was expected that patterns motivation and behavior would appear, and this was born out in fact. Using a tape recorder and a basic, but flexible schedule of questions, each of the nine directors was interviewed for a period of ninety to one hundred twenty minutes, on the premises of the specific institution served. The transcrips prepared from those tapes were given minimal editing and then used as a basis for analysis of the motivating factors. It was discovered that eight of the nine directors had been students assistants in college libraries; that all nine managed to obtain quick access to information about the field; that all nine received encouragement from those they consulted in the profession; that none consulted their families (other than wives) prior to making the decision; that none were approached on a drect personal basis for recruitment purposes – one was present at a college-wide recruitment speech; that noen saw any recruitment materials from the professional association prior to the decision; that none had a full, clear picture of what a professional librarian does; and that all would choose the field again. Library schools were chosen on the basis of proximity, pervious attendance, low cost, location in New York City, or some combination of those. Location was the primary determinant, but conditionally all of the schools attended were highly reputable – all but Atlanta University now offer the doctorate in library science, and it was the only accredited predominantly black library school at the time a black male was recruited from a college in the same complex. Six of the nine accepted first positions in technical services and one of the others had spent three years a student assistant in cataloging. Only one had predetermined that he would become a director, although several had it in mind as a distant goal. Three had never anticipated it, but found themselves in administration. All had at least one postion prior to their current one on the basis of a personal contact, and all nine were invited to apply for their current directorship. Six of the nine were directors elsewhere when approached, while two were department heads in Florida-supported schools. All anticipate remaining in administration. They were strongly motivated by challenge, by location, and, in the case of the five campuses new at the time, by that freshness. None were motivated by money or related benefits, although they turned down inadequate pay offers. A key factor was timing. The positions were available at the time the individual was considering a change. Although Florida was a strong draw, most of the conclusions would apply generally.
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MPACT Scores for William Loewy Cohn A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:03:53
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