He held a number of administrative positions in academic libraries, beginning at the University of Colorado as the associate director of libraries from 1966 to 1970.[1] From 1972 to 1978 Dougherty held the position of University Librarian at the University of California, Berkeley.[5]
In 1978 he began working at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor University Library, serving as library director from 1978 to 1988.[1] He was a professor of library science at the University of Michigan School of Library Science from 1978 to 1997, and for a short time served as the acting dean of the school (from 1984 to 1985).[1] As a professor, Dougherty focused his instruction on issues of professional management, ethics, and values.[4] He retired from the University of Michigan at the end of 1997.[4]
After retiring he started his own consulting firm, Dougherty and Associates.[6]
In addition to authoring many articles and books, Dougherty helped establish the Journal of Academic Librarianship when it began in 1975 and remained as an editor until 1994.[1]
He was elected to serve as the 1990-1991 president of the American Library Association (ALA).[4] During his time as ALA president, Dougherty promoted children's literacy and reading, as well as calling attention to the importance of information access issues.[4]
Dougherty was named the Association of College and Research Libraries Academic or Research Librarian of the Year for 1983, specifically citing his editor role of professional journals, his service to ALA and its divisions, and his leadership as a library administrator at the University of Michigan, the University of Colorado, and the University of California.[7] He was the first recipient of the ALA's Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award in 1988, recognizing the accomplishments of an academic librarian in improving library services.[4][8] In 1997 he was awarded the Joseph W. Lippincott Award, given by ALA for "distinguished service to the profession of librarianship".[4][9]
2008. Dougherty, Richard M., and Rebecca L. Mugridge. Streamlining Library Services: What We Do, How Much Time It Takes, What It Costs, How We Can Do It Better. Scarecrow Press; Lanham, Md.
1992. Dougherty, Richard M., Carol Hughes, and Preferred Library Futures: Charting the Paths: University of Michigan. Mountain View, Calif.: Research Libraries Group.
1982. Dougherty, Richard M. Maintaining the Library’s Excellence : When the Past Will Not Be Prologue. [Ann Arbor]: University of Michigan.
1974. Dougherty, Richard M., and Laura L. Blomquist. 1974. Improving Access to Library Resources: The Influence of Organization of Library Collections, and of User Attitudes toward Innovative Services. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press.
1970. Dougherty, Richard M., and Lawrence E. Leonard. 1970. Management and Costs of Technical Processes: A Bibliographical Review, 1876-1969. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press.
^Helal, Ahmed H., Ed, Joachim W., Ed Weiss, and Essen Univ (Germany). Library. 1992. Libraries and Electronic Publishing: Promises and Challenges for the 90’s. Festschrift in Honor of Richard M. Dougherty. Proceedings of the International Essen Symposium (14th, Essen, Germany, October 14-17, 1991). Publications of Essen University Library, 14.
