The Trending Academic Library Job Market: An Analysis Of Library Position Announcements From 2011 With Comparisons To 1996 And 1988

Abstract

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.

Publication Date

9-1-2015

Publication Title

College and Research Libraries

Volume

76

Issue

6

Number of Pages

716-739

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.76.6.716

Socpus ID

84940421892 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84940421892

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