scholarly journals Other Duties as As igned: Emergin Trends in the Academic Library Job Market

2000 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny M. Beile ◽  
Megan M. Adams

Nine hundred job announcements published in four journals in 1996 were examined using content analysis to compare requirements and benefits among various positions in academic libraries. This study updates the article “The Academic Library Job Market: A Content Analysis Comparing Public and Technical Services,” in which authors David W. Reser and Anita P. Schuneman analyzed 1,133 job advertisements published in 1988 to compare public and technical services positions.1 A growing number of electronic-related advertisements in the past decade has led to the addition of a third division to be investigated, namely the systems and automation librarian. For purposes of comparison with Reser and Schuneman’s article, the authors retained the same research design and variables. These variables include levels of computer skills, foreign-language requirements, previous work experience, educational requirements, and minimum salary offered.

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese F. Triumph ◽  
Penny M. Beile

The primary objective of the study was to describe the number, types and titles, requested qualifications and skills, salary information, and locations of positions advertised in 2011 on the ALA JobLIST and ARL Job Announcements websites and in the print version of the Chronicle of Higher Education for purposes of determining the current state of the academic library job market in the United States. To investigate changes in the academic library job market and identify emerging trends over a 23-year period, results also were compared to studies that analyzed position announcements from 1996 and 1988. Content analysis of 957 unique academic library job advertisements revealed relative stasis in the market regarding the number of positions advertised, presence of administrative duties, geographic distribution of positions, and, to some extent, educational requirements. However, other comparisons were more dynamic. Specifically, there has been a decline in foreign language skills and prior work experience requirements over time while computer skills are increasingly sought. Perhaps most striking is the proliferation of new position titles that have emerged over time, which serves as an indication that library positions are becoming increasingly specialized.


2001 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 407-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly P. Lynch ◽  
Kimberley Robles Smith

A content analysis of 220 job advertisements that appeared in College & Research Libraries between 1973 and 1998 demonstrates that by 1998, all academic library jobs routinely included computer technologies, that instruction had become an integral part of reference work, and that behavioral skills, especially oral and written communication skills, had emerged as new job requirements. The master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA continues to be widely accepted as the appropriate professional degree for academic librarians.


ILR Review ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Firth

This paper reports the results of a study of racial discrimination in the British job market for accountants and financial executives. The research design involved sending letters from fictitious applicants in response to job advertisements in the press. The applicants represented seven different nationalities, although all had identical qualifications and work experience. An analysis of the responses to these applications shows that considerable racial discrimination remains in the British labor market several years after the adoption of the Race Relations Act of 1968.


2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 358-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Michele Moorefield-Lang

Abstract – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the user agreements of makerspaces in public and academic libraries. User agreements, also known as maker agreements, user forms and liability forms, can be very important documents between library patrons, staff and faculty. User agreements are similar to the earlier creation of acceptable use policies for technology use in libraries. The author of this study will delve into the user agreements created for public and academic libraries across the USA. Design/methodology/approach – The researcher used content analysis to investigate 24 different user agreements written for public and academic library makerspaces. NVivo qualitative data analysis software was integrated into this research to aid in the breakdown of commonalities across terms, themes and purpose within the user agreements. Findings – Although makerspaces are a very exciting topic in the field of library science at this time, the implementation of a maker learning space is still new to many libraries. Creating a user agreement for a makerspace is newer still. Most user agreements in this study were six months to a year old. Some consistencies found across makerspace user agreements include liability waivers, permissions for minors, safety, copyright and technology replacement costs. Originality/value – At this time, most publications on makerspaces are held in the realm of popular publications (blogs, magazines, zines, etc.). The body of peer-reviewed and scholarly research on makerspaces is growing. Makerspace user agreements are new to this growing field of interest, and a content analysis of these documents will pave the way for the writing of future forms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-33
Author(s):  
Kathia Ibacache

Language-learning apps are becoming prominent tools for self-learners. This article investigates whether librarians and employees of academic libraries have used them and whether the content of these language-learning apps supports foreign language knowledge needed to fulfill library-related tasks. The research is based on a survey sent to librarians and employees of the University Libraries of the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB), two professional library organizations, and randomly selected employees of 74 university libraries around the United States. The results reveal that librarians and employees of academic libraries have used language-learning apps. However, there is an unmet need for language-learning apps that cover broader content including reading comprehension and other foreign language skills suitable for academic library work.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultan M. Al-Daihani ◽  
Suha A. AlAwadhi

Purpose – This research aims to analyze academic libraries’ Twitter content and present a categorization framework for the study of their tweets. Design/methodology/approach – The research adopted a statistical descriptive analysis in addition to a content analysis of the tweets. Consequently, many categories and subcategories were created to classify the tweets according to different aspects. A total of 17 academic library accounts were examined. Findings – The findings show that academic libraries used Twitter as a multifaceted tool. “News and announcements” received the highest score as the type of information most often posted on Twitter by libraries, followed by “library collections” and “library services”. The subcategories that received the highest scores were “library marketing and news”, “answers and referrals” and “books”. Academic libraries showed a penchant for posting links more often than other content. Other results show different patterns of communication and interaction between libraries and their Twitter followers. Practical implications – The categorization of tweets provides a framework for understanding how academic libraries use Twitter. Originality/value – As little research can be found in the library and information science literature on Twitter content analysis, this research is expected to contribute significantly. It will also support academic libraries and librarians in using Twitter more efficiently and effectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A. Goedeken ◽  
Karen Lawson

Demand-driven acquisitions (DDA) programs have become a well-established approach toward integrating user involvement in the process of building academic library collections. However, these programs are in a constant state of evolution. A recent iteration in this evolution of ebook availability is the advent of large ebook collections whose contents libraries can lease, but not own only if they choose to do so. This study includes an investigation of patron usage and librarian ebook selection by comparing call number data generated by usage of three entities: (1) an ebrary PDA; (2) Academic Complete, which is a leased collection of ebooks; and (3) subject librarian selections based on the YPB approval plan at Iowa State University. The context is provided through a description of the development and evolution of demand driven acquisitions programs with an analysis of where libraries have been and where they are going with enhancing the collection development in academic libraries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Solomon Blaylock ◽  
Declan Ryan

Academic library professionals are now in uncharted territory. We’re hurtling through unfamiliar, rapidly shifting landscapes. Information storage and retrieval, scholarly publishing, information literacy: everything’s changing on a daily basis. Get hung up on any one thing, and you’re already working in the past. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed and you’re paralyzed.


Author(s):  
Heather Empey

Gifts and donations form an integral part of an academic library’s existence, whether monetary or physical items. While monetary gifts are greatly valued, gift-in-kind donations of physical items can also contribute rare or unique items to collections. However, gift-in-kind donations also bring many challenges, as processing and evaluating physical materials can be time-consuming and labour-intensive; moreover, these materials may occupy significant amounts of space and ultimately may or may not add value to the library collection. Providing clear, publicly available gift and donation information can mitigate some of these challenges and help to set expectations for donors by giving a clear overview of the evaluation process and letting them know which types of material are of interest. The author reviewed donation-related webpages of twenty-one Canadian academic libraries to determine commonalities regarding library donation webpages. This analysis can provide practical assistance to librarians who are creating or revising gift-in-kind policies and procedures in Canadian academic libraries. Les dons monétaires ou matériels font partie intégrante de l'existence d'une bibliothèque universitaire. Bien que les dons monétaires soient très appréciés, les dons matériels peuvent aussi contribuer à des collections d'articles rares ou uniques. Toutefois, les dons en nature posent également de nombreux défis, car le traitement et l'évaluation des documents physiques peuvent prendre beaucoup de temps et exiger beaucoup de travail; en outre, ces documents peuvent prendre beaucoup d'espace et, en bout de ligne, ils peuvent ou non ajouter de la valeur à la collection de la bibliothèque. Il importe alors de fournir au public des informations claires sur les dons afin de palier certains de ces défis et d'établir des attentes pour les donateurs en leur présentant un survol clair du processus d'évaluation et en leur laissant savoir quels types de matériel sont d'intérêt. L'auteure a recensé les pages Web consacrées aux dons de vingt-et-une bibliothèques universitaires canadiennes afin d'y déceler les points communs. Cette analyse peut fournir une aide pratique aux bibliothécaires qui créent ou qui révisent des politiques et des procédures pour les dons en nature dans les bibliothèques universitaires canadiennes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document