Redefining the status of the librarian in higher education

Progress in the study of the role, function, and status of the academic librarian requires system-level analysis. Drawing on the field of higher education, this article seeks to avoid ''individual blame'' controversy through focusing on membership norms for the academic system and its librarian subsystem. Changes in the librarian subsystem are being advocated by influential higher-education theorists. Unless librarians secure peer status through adherence to core academic standards, the emerging era of electronic information will see a diminution in the librarian's influence over library affairs.