Changing workplace demands: what job ads tell us

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to analyse job ads as relatively accessible indicators of the knowledge, skills and competencies required of librarians by employers. It then uses a framework provided by the literature on professional jurisdiction to examine what may be trends and shaping factors for the Library and Information Studies (LIS) profession with regard to jurisdiction in a changing information landscape. Design/methodology/approach -Job ads were examined in two separate studies; one comparing job ads in Australia and the USA over eight weeks in 2004, and the other looking at one month snapshots of Australian job ads in 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004. The text from the job ads was analysed using a content analysis software package. The literature on professional jurisdiction provided an interpretive framework. Findings -The Australian snapshots over time showed that there is an increasing lack of clarity about the skills and competencies required of librarians. The American job ads seemed to rank jurisdictional knowledge and professional qualifications more highly than their Australian counterparts. Interpersonal skills, behavioural characteristics and technical services skills are in demand in both countries. Originality/value -In addition to reporting on the knowledge, skills and competencies required of librarians, by applying an interpretive framework from the literature on professional jurisdiction the paper exposes some of the challenges ahead for the LIS profession.Research limitations/implications -The research used a small number of sources and a relatively small number of ads. It is acknowledged that job ads are only one source of information about knowledge, skills and competencies.

Changing Trends In LIS Job Advertisements

“…Job advertisements were searched for current and future potential employers of IPs and analysed to identify which skills employers are seeking. This paper's findings are contextualised in longer-term trends in information professional work, through comparative analysis with earlier Australian job advertisement content analyses based on data collected in (Kennan et al, 2006, 2006cMarion et al, 2005).The planning of education curricula for a 21 st century IP workforce must consider an information world characterised by rapid change and sometimes shortlived trends, driven by new information delivery technologies and converging workplace practices. By comparing results with earlier studies, this study aims to identify which trends are continuing, whether skills perceived as emergent six years ago have become assumed competencies, and what skills currently appear to be emergent.…”

“…As Clyde (2002) states "… job advertisements represent the knowledge and skills that employers would like to have and are prepared to pay for" (p.155). In the last decade alone many studies have been conducted in Australia and New Zealand (Kennan et al, 2006(Kennan et al, , 2006b(Kennan et al, , 2006cPember, 2003), and internationally (Choi & Rasmussen, 2009;Clyde, 2002;Fisher, 2004;Hall & Abell, 2006aPark & Lu, 2009 Although "data gathering focused on positions calling for professional level LIS skills", primarily in academic, special and public libraries, it was their "intention to include any identifiable non-traditional positions" and "advertisements which did not specifically mention the word 'librarian'" were also included if they "used professional level LIS skills." (Kennan et al, 2006c: 18, 22).…”

Evidence Based Practice Using Formative Assessment in Library Research Support

“…Maximizing the benefit for researchers attending library research support sessions will also benefit libraries by efficiently using the time that librarians spend in supporting researchers. Efficient use of the time of librarians is important because it is likely that libraries will develop research support services with no or little additional resources (Kennan, Cole, Willard, Wilson, & Marion, 2006;Kennan, et al, 2014). Therefore, as more librarians become involved in supporting researchers in their institution, a coordinated approach will be necessary to make efficient use of limited library resources.…”

Our Future, Our Skills: Using Evidence to Drive Practice in Public Libraries

“…It is argued that the profession requires a richness and diversity of Behavioural skills, with many employers stating that they wish to appoint staff who have the 'soft skills', i.e. the personal and interpersonal skills, that are pertinent both to the LIS profession and to the wider employment environment (Kennan, Cole, Willard, Wilson & Marion, 2006;Ralph & Sibthorpe, 2010;Reeves & Hahn, 2010;Howard, 2010;Partridge, Menzies, Lee & Munro, 2010;Partridge et al, 2011;Haddow, 2012). Communication skills (Wilson & Birdi, 2008;Working Together Project, 2008;Abram, 2009;Saunders & Jordan;2013), teamwork and collaboration skills (Bagshaw, 2013), adaptability, and flexibility (Chawner & Oliver, 2013) are viewed as particularly important.…”