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Dissertation Information for Peter A. Neenan

NAME:
- Peter A. Neenan
- (Alias) Peter Neenan
- (Alias) Peter Anthony Neenan

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) (1981)

ADVISORS:
- Margaret Monroe

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Charles A. Bunge
- Helen Lyman

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: ADVOCACY AND PRACTITIONER PROFESSIONALISM: AN INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARIANS' DISPOSITION TOWARD SOCIAL CHANGE INFORMATION ADVOCACY IN RELATION TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONALISM

Abstract: Social system barriers that serve to deny individuals and groups the full exercise of their right to information access pose a challenge to the successful performance of the information-linkage role of the public librarian. This study has focussed on the compatibility of the removal of such barriers with the professionalism of the public librarian serving an adult constituency.

A nationwide random sample of 230 members of the American Library Association's Reference and Adult Services Division employed in public libraries were asked to complete a self-administered mail questionnaire designed to ascertain their levels of generic and field-specific professionalism as well as their reactions to a series of possible courses of action (ranging from non-involvement to social change information advocacy) in response to hypothetical cases in which clients requested assistance in exercising information access rights. Various indicators of professionalism were replicated from prior published research or developed for this inquiry including assessment of respondents' sense of autonomy, belief in public service, sense of calling to the field, and belief in self-regulation. Varimax rotated factor analysis was used to construct these indicators of generic professionalism. Respondent disposition toward intellectual freedom was used as an indicator of field-specific professionalism. In addition to the use of these indicators, participants' educational activity level, degree of cosmopolitanism, attitude toward risk-taking, and demographic characteristics were assessed.

Bivariate and multiple analyses of data support the substantive hypothesis that favorable disposition toward the use of social change information advocacy, both externally and internally directed, is consonant with the professional dynamic for such public library practitioners as focussed on in this inquiry. Controls on selected demographic characteristics as well as respondent disposition toward risk-taking failed to suppress this relationship. Simple, partial, and multiple correlation techniques were used to assess relationships.

Among the major implications of this study are: (1) the perception of such advocacy styles as a legitimate response to client need, and (2) the need to develop structural and support systems necessary for such service.

MPACT Scores for Peter A. Neenan

A = 1
C = 1
A+C = 2
T = 1
G = 1
W = 1
TD = 1
TA = 0
calculated 2008-07-25 20:23:36

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