Supervising Students—Faculty Librarian Experiences

Abstract

Using data collected from my phenomenological dissertation project, I will share the findings from twelve interviews with faculty librarians who supervise student employees in the library. The participant sample largely consisted of individuals who attended the first SEAL symposium in 2022 The study is guided by Donald Super’s theories of career roles and development, focusing on self-concept, adaptability, job satisfaction, and understanding of job roles. This presentation will demonstrate the various ways in which supervisors engage in practices that are tied directly to the ethics of care when working together with their student employees. The evidence found in my study demonstrates that these individuals care very deeply for their student employees not just in their work performance but also in their academic success and life interests and goals outside their educational and work lives.