Women in Library
Administration:
New Challenges and
Opportunities for Advancement
By Megan Plesea

Issues
•Gender is a troubling factor in the male/female ratio of library staff and it’s
inequity in regards to equal representation in administration.
•Census data has revealed that nearly 80% of all librarians are women.
(www.bls.gov)
•Women only account for about 20% of typical library administrations, with
some exception in academic libraries where women make up closer to 40%
of administration. (Stoffle, 2006)
•With the transition to technology-based access in libraries, many library
positions require advanced training in those formats.
•Libraries have begun outsourcing jobs such as cataloging and database
management to information specialists other than librarians. Women only
make up about 26% of all professionals who fall under the category of
“Information Technology.” (www.bls.gov)

Current Model:
staff and administration gender ratios based on current statistics
Library Administration men:women = 8:2
e
vid
Di
er
nd
Ge
Library Staff men:women = 2:8
= men = women

Equitable Representation Model:
current gender-based staff ratio if also reflected in administration
Library Administration men:women = 2:8
e id
er Div
Gend
Library Staff men:women = 2:8
= men = women

Information Technology Skills Model:
gender ratio based on potential shifts in hiring staff with technology training
Library Administration men:women = 8:2
Gender Divide
Library Staff men:women = 6:4
= men = women

Team Structure Model:
gender ratios based on current model with flat administrative structure
Administration
and/or
Team #1 Team #2 Team #3 Team #4
= men = women

Conclusions
•It is apparent that the hierarchical management structure has not
traditionally been an advantage to women pursuing careers in administration.
•With an emphasis on technology skills building in LIS programs and the
implementation of team management structures in many libraries, women
have a unique opportunity for advancement as many staff and administrative
positions retire in the next decade.
•It is estimated that more than 3 out 5 library professionals will retire in the
next 10 years. (www.bls.gov)
•“Jobs for librarians outside traditional settings will grow the fastest over the
decade.” (www.bls.gov) These overwhelming majority of these jobs involve
technical abilities and skills, such as: information broker, webmaster, and
database specialists.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer and Information Systems
Managers, Retrieved June 8, 2006 from
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Librarians, Retrieved June 8, 2006
from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2005), U.S. Department of Labor, Women in the
Labor Force: A Databook, Retrieved June 8, 2006, from
http://www.bls.gov/cps/wlf-databook2005.htm.
Rubin, R.E. (2004) Foundations of Library and Information Science (2nd
Edition) New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
Stoffle, C.(2006, June 6). Transforming Libraries. Presented at a IRLS 504
lecture at the University of Arizona.