Everyone says that library science is a field that is in the midst of rapid transformation. For this reason it can be frustrating, as a library student, to take classes in faddish subjects like Web2.0, knowing that by the time you graduate the technologies and ideas behind your graduate classes could be laughably outmoded.
I’ve been taking my share of web design and programming classes, thanks to the ubiquitous (and sometimes annoying) message that librarians need to be tech-savvy. But if I end up working, say, as a children’s librarian, will I really need those programming skills I learned this summer?
Luckily for me, one of the other things I did this summer was a research project for one of the faculty members at my school. The aim was to identify emerging trends in library and information job titles and required skills.
After scanning hundreds of job postings on dozens of national job boards for June and July, here are some of the conclusions I came to:
- Academic libraries seem to be doing most of the hiring right now (or at least doing a better job of promoting their job openings). 43% of postings I studied were for jobs in academic libraries.
- Some of the more common ‘emerging’ titles include Virtual Librarian, User Engagement Librarian, and Metadata and Digital Initiatives Developer.
- By and large, traditional library positions (such as Cataloger and Youth Services Librarian) are not suddenly requiring an arsenal of programming and Web2.0 know-how. It’s more likely that a library will create a new position to monitor and incorporate emerging technologies.
- Now is not a great time to find a job in a library if you don’t have an MLIS or at least some library experience under your belt. 65% of the listings I surveyed required an MLIS, while another 10% listed the degree as highly desirable. I came across nary an entry-level job during my research.
- The most highly requested skills? Teaching is the biggie, especially if you want to work in an academic setting. Most library jobs I came across wanted candidates who can create and maintain web pages, be familiar with different content delivery methods, be acquainted with integrated library systems (especially Millennium), and know a bit about digital materials (including applicable metadata standards and copyright laws).
- Other points of interest: 15% of listings mentioned an interest or expertise in emerging technologies as a requirement; 20% of listings were for management jobs; 25% of listings were for reference-centered jobs; 25% of listings were for tech-centered jobs
Do these points hold true for the job market in your area? Granted, this study was both small and informal, but I’m curious to see if anyone elses’ job search has turned up similar results.
In the months since I completed this report, I scoured job listings in my area because I actually needed a job. After a while, I simply gave up on finding work in a library. While I’ve noticed openings in a few public libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area, all of them require a masters degree and at least some experience. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have either at this point.
I suppose this leaves more time for beefing up my knowledge of ‘emerging technologies.’ Personally speaking, I hope the market starts to improve by the time I graduate next year and entry-level jobs become available, before I am forced to resort to bidding on an internship.
Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: Paige Turner, MLIS | 10 Comments
I’m in the same position, one year away from an MLIS. Graduating at the tail end of a recession, especially when our local government has a hiring freeze on, doesn’t leave me optimistic about jobs. I also took a web 2.0 class this summer. It is certainly tricky planning a school schedule when the future is so uncertain. I’m in Canada so it might be different, but your research findings were very interesting anyways. Who knows what the future holds, I just hope I can find a job at the end of library school!
Paige…I’ll be the third person, (and female) to admit to being in the exact same position as you find yourself…well almost….I do have two full years as a circulation assistant at our public library in Wilmington, NC. I’ll be finished with my MLS degree this coming spring. I agree with every finding you discussed in your review above. Academic positions are being offered much more, not surprising, given the economy and what public libraries across the country have in the way of funds to hire new librarians.
Thanks for your research, I have been on almost every library job posting board myself for the past six months, and continue to do so almost every day….here’s to finding a great job next spring!
One thing I’ve found since I started by job hunt back in January (I’m speaking strictly of the Northeast here), is that academic libraries are doing a lot of hiring, but are far pickier, and get so many more applicants that it’s still nearly impossible to get a job in one. Case in point: I have two masters degrees (one in library science, one in English), college-level teaching experience, and three years library experience. What I think is holding me back from being an attractive candidate, is the fact that the bulk of my experience is in public libraries. Even one of my professors, who has worked in academic libraries exclusively (he’s an adjunct, so still in the field) admitted to us that at least at his institution, if you have only public library experience, you aren’t really considered for jobs.
I did a one-semester academic library internship, but aside from that and merely using the library extensively as a student, I don’t have that much academic library experience that I can put on my resume, and these jobs are so coveted that the only interview I’ve even landed has been for a part-time, no benefits circulation clerk working til 2am three days a week (I didn’t get that one).
Experience is crucial, but it also has to be the right kind of experience, which is the most frustrating thing. I’ve very well-rounded in terms of library work, but it seems like when so many people are hustling for these jobs, employers can pick the person who has already done exactly what they need in another position. Whatever happened to hiring based on past performance even if it didn’t necessarily relate perfectly to the position, and what happened to being willing to train people?
I’m becoming a bit bitter since I chose librarianship hoping for a field where I can constantly learn, but it seems that no one wants to hire someone who doesn’t already know exactly how to do the job. Maybe this is how is always has been, but the huge pool of people looking for work stacks the deck squarely in favor of the employer, which sucks for me.
A lot of us in the Philadelphia region are giving up on librarianship altogether these days. I have seen corporate hiring situations where MLS level positions are cut and the support staff have to carry the ball instead – and someone else (like a HR director or IT manager) oversees the work of the library. Getting a library degree is a crapshoot in good times, but it’s going to get worse. Pennsylvania estimates it will have 5 – 8 % fewer library jobs around by 2012.
“…as a children’s librarian, will I really need those programming skills I learned this summer?”
how can it hurt to upload a podcast of some kid reading a library program or news story that you wrote? the same with video. (I bought an external dvd burner that came with some video editing software that isn’t terrible.)
most 2.0 social networking crap is free, so every jobseeker should have at least 5 accounts all linked through feeds, tweets, etc. one blog post, and everything updates. it makes it look like you understand how all this crap works.
I don’t work with kids, but last year I arranged to hook up a classroom of kids from a Florida library with kids in a NY library through an online meeting room with video/audio.. if you have something like that available, make sure you record the meet (I forgot to record mine, oops). But most of our library’s programs with kids are craft, movie, hands on… not web based. So who knows.. (God, I wish I was closer to retirement age; when I read this stuff, I wonder if I’ll still have a job in 5 years…)
I don’t know the academic scene, but I don’t think many libraries know what they want until they see someone who brings something cool to the show.
I interviewed someone for one of our jobs who had podcasts and stuff online, but it sucked. The audio sounded crappy and the content was sloppy. Everyone wants to see something that makes them say, Wow. So even though she kinda knew cool stuff, she didn’t do a good job showing it off. So the caveat on having 2.0 stuff to show at the interview is, don’t suck.
All I know about the job market is that I had to go 250 miles to get my first job. Then I was able to learn enough to get the job where I wanted to be.
Here is Nashville, the colleges and universities aren’t hiring. Except the occasional temporary position to cover someone out on maternity leave or the like. And hardly anyone else is hiring either. The jobs available mostly want an MLS plus several years experience.
While I agree that the job situation is difficult, I don’t think it’s impossible. As a graduate in May 2009 who did secure permanent library employment, I think there were two critical factors that helped me. First, you have to stand out. This can vary, depending on the type of job that you want. For me, a second Master’s degree in a scientific discipline really helped. However, for others, consistent experience in a library setting was the most important. Mostly, everyone has an MLS. So, you definitely need practical library experience and probably some other clincher that makes you different. Second, I was willing to MOVE. Many of the graduates that I know that are having trouble have limited themselves to a very specific geographic area. Since there are not many jobs, it’s especially difficult to find a job in one particular area. Be open to moving. Get experience. Then, maybe you can move again later. I know it will still be hard to find a job, but I think some people gloss over these two things.
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