Mission
As per the Policy Manual of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (pp. A38-A42), the primary purpose of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) is "to provide a vehicle for Association members to share with one another ideas, plans, news, and opinions related to a particular area of interest. . . . participation is
voluntary . . . and there is no obligation to produce
anything." In keeping with the Policy statements, the mission of the ALISE Part-Time and Adjunct Faculty Special Interest Group (PTA Faculty SIG) is to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas that relate to the unique position occupied by part-time and adjunct faculty among LIS educators and in academia, their teaching and research activities, as well as the variety of contexts surrounding their work as educators.
This website aims to be a source of information and forum for part-time and adjunct faculty of library and information sciences (LIS) and primarily for those who are members of ALISE and of its PTA Faculty SIG. However, all educators in the LIS professions are welcome to use the information on this site, participate in our discussions, and contribute information to the forum.
This website aims to be a source of information and forum for part-time and adjunct faculty of library and information sciences (LIS) and primarily for those who are members of ALISE and of its PTA Faculty SIG. However, all educators in the LIS professions are welcome to use the information on this site, participate in our discussions, and contribute information to the forum.
Who are we?
We are educators striving for the public recognition of adjunct and part-time faculty's important contributions to the education of new generations of LIS professionals and LIS educators. Some of us have a PhD and some of us have a Master's degree in a LIS field. All of us are part of the "new majority" of contingent faculty supporting the higher-ed educational enterprise.
ALISE statistics show that we do represent the majority (51.75%) of hired faculty contributing to the LIS educational enterprise.
In effect, according to the ALISE 2012 Statistical Report , based on information reported by schools in all states there were in Fall 2011: 1,020 part time faculty (pp.50-51 ) and 951 full time faculty (pp. 48-49).
ALISE statistics show that we do represent the majority (51.75%) of hired faculty contributing to the LIS educational enterprise.
In effect, according to the ALISE 2012 Statistical Report , based on information reported by schools in all states there were in Fall 2011: 1,020 part time faculty (pp.50-51 ) and 951 full time faculty (pp. 48-49).
Our goals
Our overarching goal is to hold discussions and meetings for the exchange of ideas in order to raise the visibility and to advocate for the recognition of the "New Majority in LIS Education".
For the year 2016
Looking to the future
We are collectively interested in finding out about what characterizes the PTA contingent. Therefore, a secondary goal is to initiate and set up a research project to collect and compile data descriptive of our diversity and of our work.
For the year 2016
- Our primary goal is to propose a SIG Session for 2016 ALISE Annual Conference that will take place Jan. 27-30, in Boston, MA. The session will again be scheduled as a 1h30mn block.
- Another goal is to continue
Looking to the future
We are collectively interested in finding out about what characterizes the PTA contingent. Therefore, a secondary goal is to initiate and set up a research project to collect and compile data descriptive of our diversity and of our work.
How to join?
Click on the logo
To join the PTA Faculty SIG you must first join ALISE.
Click the ALISE logo to the right to go to the membership page of the ALISE website.
Click the ALISE logo to the right to go to the membership page of the ALISE website.
How to participate in the discussion of Part-time & Adjunct faculty?
Any LIS educator can participate by sending us an email via the contact form below. We recognize the diversity of LIS educators' statuses: full time faculty (on the tenure track, off the tenure track), tenured/un-tenured faculty, doctoral students/teaching assistants, part-time faculty, adjunct faculty, LIS educators who have a primary occupation as librarian, etc. Because of this diversity, PTA faculty and doctoral students may identify with and belong to other professional associations; therefore we see no need to require educators contributing comments to be members of ALISE and of the PTA Faculty SIG.
Another way to participate is by joining ALISEadjunct - ALISE - Part-time & Adjunct Faculty List a non-moderated discussion set up on Yahoo! Groups prior to the creation of this official website for our SIG.
Another way to participate is by joining ALISEadjunct - ALISE - Part-time & Adjunct Faculty List a non-moderated discussion set up on Yahoo! Groups prior to the creation of this official website for our SIG.
2016 Convener(s) wanted
Catherine and Jennifer having served for several years are hoping that colleagues, PTA or FTT will step forward to take the lead of our SIG for the up-coming year. Would you please manifest your interest and attend the election at ALISE 2016 in Boston?