Presentation given at the 7th Applications of Social Network Analysis Conference in Zurich, Switzerland on September 16, 2010. This is an overview of a followup study to my earlier dissertation research.

1. Expanding the circle of knowledge: The role of longevity and external opportunities in forming the social networks of academic librarians H. Frank Cervone, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Information Services Purdue University Calumet ASNA 2010 - Thursday, September 16, 2010

2. Brief context Study population: Group of academic librarians that have regular interaction with each other in a statewide library consortium Basis of questions: Follow up to prior study (Cervone, 2008) on receptivity of academic librarians to innovation Libraries as “sacred cow” cultures (Alvesson, 2000) Three significant factors found to contribute to a greater receptivity to innovation Number of outdegree relations Length of time in career Belonging to professional associations

3. To explore common assumptions Older employees are less receptive to innovation Compelling evidence from the author’s prior study that may not be the case in librarianship Belonging to professional associations inherently provides access to a larger pool of potential network members As people progress in their careers the likelihood of engaging with new people through professional affiliations increases Staff in larger libraries are more innovative than staff in smaller libraries because they have more ready access to a larger professional advice network

4. Questions Do the social networks of librarians increase in scope and breadth as a result of length of tenure? If so, how does that scope and breadth change? Does the scope of involvement in professional organizations change as a result of Length of tenure in a career? Function within an organization? If so, how does this affect the social network? Are staff members in larger libraries more receptive to innovation than staff in smaller libraries? A possibility due to access to a larger local professional advice network

5. Average network size Who do you regularly ask for advice related to your job?

6. Career span How long have you worked in a library?

7. Network scope Computed based on physical proximity, organizational proximity, and frequency of interaction (modeled on Cross, 2003)

8. Average number of professional memberships What professional organizations do you belong to?

9. Outdegreemeasures over career span

10. Network scope over career span

11. Professional memberships over career span

12. Innovation measures by functional area

13. Professional memberships by functional area

14. Innovation measures by type of institution

15. Conclusions The social networks of librarians do increase in scope and breadth as a result of length of tenure Scope becomes broader Breadth increases to a point Starts to contract approaching retirement The scope of involvement in professional organizations increases as a result of length of tenure in a career This involvement is not a predictor of receptivity to innovation Staff members in larger libraries are no more receptive to innovative than staff in smaller libraries Receptivity to innovation does appear to be related to type of library however