Date of Award

2025

Degree Name

Leadership Studies

College

College of Education and Professional Development

Type of Degree

Ed.D.

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Dr. Ronald Childress

Second Advisor

Dr. Bobbi Nicholson

Third Advisor

Dr. Yvonne Skoretz

Abstract

Performance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the data by searching shared experiences and thoughts across the interview transcripts. Overall, participating librarians felt positive about their own mentoring experiences, attributing it largely to having good mentors. However, they were less confident about the effectiveness of the mentoring and training system for the profession as a whole, primarily citing the lack of standardization, and agreed that the training system could be improved. A secondary purpose of this study was to develop a framework for a model program for preparing performance librarians. The major components of this model program include study or coursework with practical exercises, hands-on work with an ensemble, regular feedback, guest speakers, audition preparation, and self-care and soft skills development. While the model program provides a framework for preparing performance librarians, the profession will continue to rely on strong mentors. The findings of this study supported practicing what one librarian described as “intentional mentorship that thinks about how we’re setting someone up for success and to thrive in this industry for years to come.”

Subject(s)

Music librarians.

Library education.

Music -- Performance.

Mentoring -- Education.

Music librarians -- Training - Education.

Music -- Instruction and study.

Educational leadership.

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