Information Careers

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Information Careers
LS 501 Introduction to Library
Information Studies
Revised Summer 2006, 2010, 2011
C.2003, Deborah J. Grimes
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Working Conditions for Librarians

• Significant amount of time at desks computer
  terminals (eyestrain, headaches, CTS)
• Variety of library users need assistance requires
  and patience and good reference interview
  skills
• Smaller libraries -- more breadth in daily tasks
  and responsibilities larger libraries -- more
  depth in daily tasks and responsibilities
• School librarians -- same weekday schedule and
  holidays as students
• Special librarians -- same schedule and holidays
  as business/industry (but may work longer hours
  during peak periods)
• Public and academic librarians -- often work
  weekends, evenings, holidays
• Some physical work necessary in most positions
  some tedium and details much bureaucracy (at
  organization level) but autonomy (at individual
  level)
• More than 20 librarians work part-time
• Rapid technological change at the present

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Degree Requirements for Librarians

• Professional positions generally require Masters
  degree in librarianship, library science, library
  studies, information studies, etc.
• Minimum requirement for some positions may be
  Masters in any field with 18 hours in library
  studies school library positions vary and
  sometimes require teaching certification.
• Special librarians and subject bibliographers
  often need additional graduate or professional
  degree -- or no library degree at all!
• Ph.D. is often required for library educators,
  top administrative jobs in colleges,
  universities, or large library systems.

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Is the MLS a legitimate credential?

• Cottam points out that exceptions to the rule
  do not challenge the MLS as a legitimate
  credential and that the few who wish to do
  library work without the credential do not
  threaten the profession.
• But what is the public perception of the work and
  the job of a librarian? Do credentials help
  explain librarians roles to the public?
• Other librarians consider it legitimate and a
  minimum qualification (and who hires reviews
  applications?).
• MLS considered to be minimum qualification for
  most academic libraries (see ACRL minimum
  competencies and statement on MLS)
• MLS affects promotion and rank, particularly at
  academic institutions with faculty status for
  librarians
• When considering jobs and positions what really
  matters are the requirements of the library
  and/or institution with the job
• P.S. Only one Librarian of Congress has had a
  library degree (L. Quincy Mumford, BS, Columbia
  University, 1929)

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Job Outlook for Librarians, Occupational
Outlook Handbook , 2010-11 ed.
Currently 159,900 librarians at work

• Employment is expected to grow as quickly as
  average rate in other jobs through 2018 (about
  8), but retirement of large numbers of
  librarians will lead to need for replacements.
• More than 3 in 5 librarians are aged 45 or older
  and will become eligible for retirement in the
  next 10 years.
• OTOH, systems librarians will be needed, along
  with librarians who can use technology to meet
  user needs.
• There will be more competition for jobs in large
  metropolitan areas and less competition in rural
  areas.
• 59 jobs will be in public and private
  educational institutions 27 will be with local
  governments

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The Boomer Brain Drain The Last of a
Generation
SO WHAT?!
Published in Library Journal (May 1, 2000), pp.
38-43, by Evan St.Lifer (AVL)
Why, then are recent grads still finding boomers
holding onto their jobs?
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How to Locate Library Jobs

• UA SLIS Placement Materials
• Chronicle of Higher Education (Academe Today at
  http//www.chronicle.com
• ALA online (plus placement center at conferences)
• Library Journal (print and online)
• ALLA -- http//allanet.org/www/employment.htm
• APLS -- http//www.apls.state.al.us/webpages/news/
  jobs.htm
• Libraryjobs -- http//www.libraryjobpostings.org/
• Special libraries -- http//www.ibiblio.org/slanew
  s/jobs/jobs.html
• Lib Jobs -- http//www.libjobs.com/
• UIUC Library School site -- http//alexia.lis.uiuc
  .edu/gslis/resources/jobs.html
• Local newspapers, school boards, listservs, etc.

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Salaries for Librarians
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Number of Placements and Full-Time Salaries of
2009 US Graduates (by Region)
Region No.Jobs Low High Average Median
Women Men Women Men Women Men ALL
NE 299 15,600 18,000 104,000 70,000 42,101 37,695 42K
SE 250 13,104 15,000 75,000 72,500 39,622 38,068 39K
MW 321 12,000 18,720 82,000 112,500 38,965 44,999 38.2K
SW 121 15,000 25,000 85,000 88,000 41,921 46,980 41K
West 154 20,000 30,500 95,000 98,000 48,170 56,251 46K
Internatl 24 22,000 32,000 80,000 61,400 45,716 47,133 48K
Combined 1220 12,000 15,000 104,100 112,500 41,514 44,945 40K
Why the differences?
From ALA Annual Survey, pub.in Library Journal,
October 1, 2010
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Alabama Graduates/Employed, 2008
Graduates Employed
Women Men Total Women Men Total
UA 72 25 97 8 5 13
Total 4098 1061 5192 1343 320 1666
From ALA Annual Survey, pub.in Library Journal,
October 2, 2010
Probably due to number responding So please
respond when you get the survey!
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Salaries for Librarians

• Occupational Outlook Handbook , updated 12/09
  (http//www.bls.govocc/print/ocos069.htm)
• OOH Earnings in 2008
• Median earnings 52,530
• Middle 50 42,240 and 65,300
• Lowest 10 lt 33,190
• Highest 10 gt 81,130
• Median annual earnings where most librarians are
  employed
• Elementary/secondary schools 54,050
• Junior Colleges 55,250
• Colleges universities 55,180
• Local government 54,650
• Other information services 40,000

In fact a few simple mathematical
calculations reveal that if reference librarians
were paid at market rates for all the roles they
play, they would have salaries well over
200,000." Will Manley in The Truth About
Reference Librarians, McFarland, 1996, p. 30.
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Salaries/Placements for Librarians

• Annual Salary Survey in Library Journal (October
  issue)
• Salaries increased fastest in MW and esp. SW,
  chiefly in academic and vendor positions
• Average starting salary LIS grads in 2008 gained
  by 1.5 to 42,215
• But unemployment was reported 7.8 higher (with
  length of search averaging 5 months) with grads
  down 7
• Hiring freezes, mandated furloughs, budgets
• More placements outside libraries than previous
  years (41)
• Gender gap and glass ceiling increases, esp.
  minority women
• 22.8 in part-time positions
• 44.6 graduates returned to their current jobs
• Location matters -- higher average salaries in
  West (50,343 or 16 higher) placements
  decreased in SE by 10 with 8.5 unemployment

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Advancement in the Field

• Experience
• Additional education, degree, training
• Publications, presentations (especially academic
  librarians)
• Special skills (especially computer skills),
  foreign language abilities
• Willingness to relocate
• Networking

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Where else can your MLS take you?

• Information specialist for government officials
  or city management
• Associate Product Manager, eBay (Nancy Firchow)
• Librarian, Johnson Publishing Company, Chicago
• Librarian, Academy of Motion Picture Arts
  Sciences
• Digital Librarian, Anti-Defamation League, NYC
• Librarian, The Freedom Forum, Washington, DC
• Project Manager, Zimmerman Associates,
  Washington, DC (digitizing historical collection
  of US Mint)
• Library school professor (with doctorate)
• Tribal libraries and educational programs
• Answer Lady, Facts for Fiction (verifying info.
  for authors)
• Archivists, curators, museum technicians
• Information industry jobs (publishers, jobbers,
  systems vendors, etc.)
• Information brokers
• Information architect

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Lets Revisit Is Librarianship a Profession?

• Characteristics of a profession (mostly from
  Goode)
• Autonomy -- individual choice in standards of
  excellence judged by peers not outsiders
  accountability
• Professional associations
• Higher incomes than other workers
• Prolonged specialized training
• Code of ethics
• Body of knowledge, ongoing research attached to
  learning and philosophy in the field
• Service orientation (clients needs more imp.
  Than self-interest)

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Lets Revisit Is Librarianship a Profession?

• Continued Characteristics of a profession
  (mostly from Goode)
• Making sacrifices (pro bono work, risking life
  or other things)
• Time and money is spent on recruiting superior
  candidates and better training.
• Elite members know what to do (ethics, service,
  lobbying, curricula, fund-raising, research,
  image).
• Public must believe and be aware that there is a
  specialized body of knowledge.
• Backstage activities more important than what
  the public sees.

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Is Librarianship a Profession?

• Continued Characteristics of a profession
  (mostly from Goode)
• Rise to administrative levels later in careers
• Understanding of clients needs rather than wants
  (puts their good first) decisions are made by
  the professional and not by the client
• Little competition -- distinct function?
• Hierarchy within the field (Robbins)
• Degree to which perceived as public good (i.e.
  high social value)

Trade
Profession
Continuum
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What Do You Think?
CLASS EXERCISE Is the MLS DOA?