Purposes, Politics, and Practical Impact of Peer and Shared Governance in Academic Libraries

This paper explores the implications of more or less peer and shared governance among academic librarians. Beginning with the conceptual framework that university administrators and educators have divergent aims, we posit that educators be evaluated by peers with shared aims rather than administrators. We consider the role of shared and peer governance in library collections, instruction, research, personnel decisions, and university decision-making. The paper outlines threats to shared and peer governance in libraries including administrative opposition, siloed university units, political influences, and affective barriers among librarians.