ISSN : 1013-0799
This study aimed to delve into the personal experiences of academic librarians as they perform their duties, seeking a holistic understanding of their professional experiences and the subjective experiences underlying them. To this end, the study conducted in-depth interviews with librarians, who were selected as research participants from private four-year universities, and analyzed the collected data using Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis method. The findings reveal that the experiences of academic librarians can be summarized as “ambivalent perceptions of the librarian profession,” “discrepancies between expectations and reality,” “discriminatory personnel practices within university organizations,” “growth and limitations derived from professional experiences,” and “adaptation and anxiety in response to rapid environmental changes.” A closer examination indicated that academic librarians continuously experience and resolve dilemmas within complex contexts. The findings of this study are expected to deepen the understanding of the profession of academic librarians and contribute to the development of practical strategies for workforce management and the improvement of working conditions.