Patterson, MargaretDonlevy, JamesWheeler, Justine L.2018-10-302018-10-302018-10-17http://hdl.handle.net/1880/108932The primary purpose of this research study was to explore the experiences and understandings of academic librarians who transitioned from professional to academic roles at a Canadian college that became a university. Secondary research questions explored factors that hindered or assisted the librarians’ transition processes and the implications of such a transition. The theoretical framework for this study was adult transition theory. The research design was grounded in a case study approach. Epistemologically, a social constructivist perspective was taken. Sources of data included participant interviews, informant interviews, internal library documents, institutional documents, and external documents. Four main themes emerged from this study: readiness for transition, identity formation, communities of practice, and role strain. Key findings from this study were: (a) the institutional codification of shared academic governance required a parallel shift towards a shared leadership model in the library; (b) the librarian participants struggled to resolve perceived tensions between their professional librarian identities and their emerging academic identities; and (c) through a shared narrative, the librarian participants experienced a group transition process. Recommendations for postsecondary administrators, library administrators, and academic librarians are presented to support the transition of librarians from professional roles to academic roles.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.transitionacademic librariansrolesLibrary ScienceEducation--Administrationdoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/33235