Name

Amy VanScoy

School

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Degree Program

PhD student in Library and Information Science

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Culture from Pennsylvania State University; Master of Arts in French Instruction from Indiana University; Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from University of Alabama

Dissertation Topic

Exploring the Meaning of Reference Work for Librarians in Academic Research Libraries

Research Interests

How professional librarians think about their work

Advisor

Barbara Moran

Advisor’s Research Focus

Academic librarianship; management of information agencies; human resources management; popular materials; organizational design and leadership

Hobbies

Spending time with family; doctoral work; reading science fiction

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I selected the University of North Carolina’s PhD program in library and information science for a few reasons. The biggest reason was its ranking as the best library school in the country, which I felt would give my research credibility. In addition, the balance of faculty interest between the practical and theoretical sides of library and information science promised an intellectual but supportive learning environment. Another major factor was the short commute. The university happened to be only 1 bus ride away from my home.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare for my PhD program in library and information science, I obtained a masters degree and worked for several years in the field, then I took a few classes to prepare for my return to coursework. I also took a couple of classes before applying, which was helpful since I had been out of the classroom for so long.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, the application for my PhD program required me to submit GRE scores. I had taken the GRE several years ago for my masters degrees, so it felt strange to go through that process once more. I purchased a study book to help me prepare and got the test out of the way as quickly as possible.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

My personal statement resembled a job letter. I didn’t want to write big words and long promises about my future plans, which is how I approached my personal statements for my previous degrees. Instead, I focused on conveying who I was and why this program suited my needs.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I chose faculty who I had worked with recently to write my letters of recommendation. Before applying, I had taken a few courses as refreshers. I felt the faculty from those classes would have a good perspective on my interests and abilities.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in library and information science?

Yes, I would advise students who have been out of the classroom for a few years to take refresher classes before starting their programs. I took a few doctoral-level courses before entering University of North Carolina’s program to familiarize myself once more with the demands of coursework. The professional world behaves differently from the academic world, so those classes reminded me of the rules by which each operates.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My PhD in library and information science typically requires 2 years of coursework and the completion of a dissertation, which is a process that takes several years. My coursework took longer than it does for most students because I briefly attended school part time.

The most difficult part of the curriculum has been the dissertation, which I am just finishing. The dissertation proposal and topic preparation that followed were particularly challenging. Researching a topic that I knew little about took enormous intellectual effort. Once I had pinned down the topic and the research, however, the dissertation became much easier.

During the coursework and dissertation processes, I was also a teaching assistant. About half of the people in my program participate in teaching assistantships while the other half participate in research assistantships. The teaching assistantships may require students to be responsible for an entire course or may pair students with a faculty member, while the research assistantships involve researching alongside faculty.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

The focus of my dissertation is the experience of reference work for librarians in academic research libraries. Ideally, my dissertation should extend our understanding of reference work and inform professional and continuing education.

Deciding upon this topic and doing the preliminary research was initially very difficult. I recommend that students at the beginning of this process plot their dissertation thoroughly before they begin writing and pick a topic that will not take too long to finish. The most important step in selecting a dissertation topic is the formulation of your ideas. Many people start with vague notions of what they want to do but cannot develop those ideas into real research studies or concrete questions. Thorough, self-disciplined plotting will remove this difficulty.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

I would describe the process of writing my dissertation as challenging, but I feel this experience is common to doctoral students. I typically work on my dissertation between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and save grading, e-mail and other tasks for the afternoon or evening. My dissertation doesn’t have many hard deadlines, so I often find it difficult to just sit down and write.

In fact, keeping myself motivated has been one of my greatest struggles throughout the dissertation process. One way I combat this issue is with a reward system. I start with a very small goal, such as writing 2 sentences, and reward myself when I achieve it. Then I move on to a slightly larger goal, perhaps 5 sentences, and reward myself again. I continue working and rewarding myself for as long as possible in a sitting.

Although doctoral students hardly require additional reading, I do recommend books on writing from Robert Boice, Daniel Silva and Anne Lamott, each of whom have tips, strategies and words of encouragement that I have found useful.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor plays an important role in my education, though the student-advisor experience in my program seems varied. Essentially, the role of my advisor is to guide me through the doctoral process and remove some of the barriers for me. She does not necessarily provide me with research or method ideas, but she does provide the positive, encouraging support that I require. I believe the positive relationship we have reflects the care that I put into selecting her as my advisor.

I recommend that students consider their needs carefully before selecting their advisor. Part of that process must include identifying weaknesses, learning preferences and assumptions about what an advisor should do. Once students have identified their needs, they should seek out an advisor who is suited to meeting them. Students should also encourage the behaviors they appreciate most in their advisors to ensure that the relationship stays fruitful.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my program does require comprehensive exams. The varied, interdisciplinary nature of library and information science led the program to base these exams on areas of study specific to each student. As a result, students each have their own, unique reading lists and study methods.

How does a doctoral program differ from graduate study at the masters level?

The writing expectations, purpose and scale are what differ most from my masters programs. The coursework for my masters degrees did not require a thesis, whereas my doctoral program requires extensive writing, not only for the dissertation, but for other research papers too.

However, the purpose of my masters program was to prepare me for professional work, not for research and teaching. As a result, my masters degree focused on professional practices while my doctoral program emphasizes research principles.

The scope of my masters program was also much smaller. My doctoral program takes much longer, has far less structure and requires a great deal more work. This difference reflects the contrasting purposes of the 2 degree levels.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My PhD program in library and information science is relatively inexpensive. However, though tuition is reasonable, doctoral programs have other costs, such as rent, medical insurance and expenses related to research.

How are you funding your education?

I funded my doctoral studies in several ways. While I worked full time, I received a tuition waiver from my employer that covered tuition and fees. I also had a teaching assistantship which provided me with a stipend and a fellowship that covered my tuition. I have also looked for opportunities to apply for awards and fellowships based on my research. These awards provide useful funding, and they also help publicize my research.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in library and information science?

The time commitments for a PhD in this field are extensive, but vary at different stages of the degree. For example, I used to work all day long for the research analysis component of my dissertation. Now, however, I write the dissertation in the morning and grade papers and send e-mails in the afternoon.

Likewise, the coursework in the first few years of the program involved copious reading and assignment deadlines, but now I research independently and have only 1 deadline, which is very flexible.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

The demands of a doctoral program mean that neither my personal life nor my program receive 100% of my attention. I may spend several weeks devoting myself entirely to writing a paper, but turn around and invest the same amount of time into my personal life once I complete the assignment.

I learned early from other students and faculty to move past the guilt and shame associated with divided attention. If I am unable to write as much as I had planned, then I need to start fresh the next day. Too many people allow shame to keep them from finishing what is in front of them. I move past these and other stumbling blocks by forcing myself to sit down and work for 15 minutes in the morning before I do anything else.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I want to hold a faculty position with a university and perform useful, interesting research. I see myself educating and inspiring students and publishing great papers.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in library and information science?

I have a few insights for students, the most important of which is that library and information science has something for everyone. This degree is approachable for people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. For example, I came into this doctoral program after spending years as a professional librarian. Others came fresh from their masters degree programs. I want to study the more concrete aspects of information science, but others want to study the abstract concepts. Nonetheless, we are all doing meaningful, satisfying work.

And ultimately, that hard work is the key to success. Anyone who wants to succeed at this level must be able to work hard, even if only for short periods of time. For example, when I am struggling to write, I force myself to sit and write for 15 minutes before I do anything else. I am very strict with myself, but I know discipline is a necessary component of hard work.

Creativity keeps all of this hard work exciting. Finding new research areas and synthesizing meaning from different disciplines and texts are profoundly satisfying tasks. Students of library and information science who embrace the creative side of this discipline can seek out research from new, seemingly unrelated fields and find connections where others see only a lack of synergy. This process is what makes library and information science so interesting.