[1][2] He served as the president of the American Library Association from 1990 to 1991, focusing on bringing attention to information access issues and supporting children's literacy.
[1] As a professor, Dougherty focused his instruction on issues of professional management, ethics, and values.
[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.
[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.
[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.