An analysis reported in 1974 of 660 library science and library science related dissertations completed between 1925 and 1972 showed thatoverall, for the period 1925-72, 76.95% of the doctorates awarded for library science research were Ph.D.’s, 13.20% were Ed.D.’s, 8.55% were D.L.S.’s, and 1.3% were other.               (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that48% of the 435 doctoral recipients who received their degrees between 1953-72 worked in positions or with activities that appeared to be far removed from the scope of their dissertations. The primary exception to this general trend was library school faculty, where 63.3% taught courses that generally coincided with their dissertation topic.                      (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, of the 435 doctoral recipients who received their degrees between 1953-72, there was no statistically significant relationship between type of degree earned (Ph.D., D.L.S., and Ed.D.) and the type of position held (faculty, academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries, special libraries, other) at the time of the analysis. D.L.S. recipients were as likely as Ph.D. or Ed.D. recipients to teach on library school faculties, while Ph.D. recipients were as likely as D.L.S. or Ed.D. recipients to have jobs in academic libraries, etc.                       (Source)

 A 1974-75 study of university libraries including all Association of Research Libraries libraries (sample size: 92; responding: 72 or 78%) and all library schools with ALA-accredited programs (sample size: not given; responding: 44 or 80%) showed that, in Fall 1974, responding library schools reported a total enrollment in the master’s program of 9,224 students, of which 125 (1.4%) had subject Ph.D.’s. The total number of subject Ph.D.’s enrolled in the previous 2 years together was 101.          (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, of those Ph.D.’s enrolled in library master’s degree programs in the 2 years prior to the study, the major subject areas represented were: history (16.9%), English (16.9%) education (9.6%), languages (7.2%), law (4.8%), and music (3.6%).                         (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe 13 responding library schools that awarded Ph.D.’s reported 113 Ph.D.’s awarded in the 2 years prior to the survey. Of this 113, 31 did not seek employment, 36 took positions in library administration, and 46 took teaching positions.                     (Source)

A survey reported in 1978 of traceable North American librarians who had earned library doctorates in American Library Association accredited programs between 1930 and 1975 (survey size: 568; responding: 403 or 71%) showed that51.3% reported being in library education, 33.8% reported being in the field of library administration, 11.1% reported library research (as distinct from any other categories), and 3.8% reported being in library operations.              (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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