Disruption and Demoralization in Academic Libraries: A Snapshot

abstract:This article discusses a specific subset of results from an exploratory survey deployed in September 2021. Quantitative and qualitative results of this exploratory survey were considerable, and as such, this article focuses on question responses related to library workers' perceptions of themselves and others during times of change and views of their place in academic librarianship now and in the future. Overall, survey respondents demonstrated a high level of self-confidence and personal agency as library workers, but also illustrated consistent themes of demoralization, with respondents sometimes or often considering leaving their current roles (78 percent) or the profession entirely (60 percent).