Academic Library Development Officers in Fund Raising: How They Perceive Their Work

Although not extensively documented, academic libraries in the United States of America have been involved in fund raising for centuries. This study expands knowledge regarding library development efforts so that scholars and library administrators can better understand library fund raising and become more successful in raising funds. This research highlights strategies academic library development officers believe work in cultivating donors from a limited target population and how they believe this differs or is similar from the work of other development officers in higher education. This research sought to understand how organizational placement of the library development officer in the university has an impact on successful fund raising. Findings include the importance of relationships that the library development officer has with the library director, central development, library staff, and donors. Library development officers also rely more on events to identify and cultivate donors. However, the reporting structure of the library development position seems to have little impact on the success of the position.

Dr. Michael Lorenzen has been the Head of Reference Services at Central Michigan University since 2003. He has a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy (Bowling Green State), a Master of Library Science degree (Kent State), a Master of Education degree (Ohio University), and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Central Michigan University).