An analysis reported in 1974 of 660 library science and library science related dissertations completed between 1925 and 1972 showed thatthere were “three distinct and increasingly active periods of production”: 1925-59 with an average of 4.5 dissertations a year, 1960-69 with an average of 24.1 dissertations a year, and 1970-72 with an average of 73.0 dissertations a year.                  (Source)

 A 1974-75 study of university libraries including all Association of Research Libraries libraries (sample size: 92; responding: 72 or 78%) and all library schools with ALA-accredited programs (sample size: not given; responding: 44 or 80%) showed thatthe 13 responding library schools that awarded Ph.D.’s reported 113 Ph.D.’s awarded in the 2 years prior to the survey. Of this 113, 31 did not seek employment, 36 took positions in library administration, and 46 took teaching positions.                         (Source)

 A study reported in 1982 comparing U.S. government projections (taken from Projections of Educational Statistics) for the number of graduates from library science degree programs with actual numbers of graduates from such programs showed thatfor all 3 kinds of library degrees the long-term projections were extremely inaccurate and even the shortest-term projections were quite inaccurate except for doctoral candidates. For example:

                 in 1979-80, 73 doctoral degrees in library science were actually granted, while the projected number of doctoral degrees for 1979-80 in 1971 was 40, in 1973 was 60, in 1976 was 90, and in 1978 was 80;

                in 1979-80, 5,374 master’s degrees in library science were actually granted, while the projected number of master’s degrees for 1979-80 in 1971 was 19,280, in 1973 was 10,940, in 1976 was 10,250, and in 1978 was 8,920;

                in 1979-80, 398 bachelor’s degrees in library science were actually granted, while the projected number of bachelor’s degrees for 1979-80 in 1971 was 1,580, in 1973 was 1,520, in 1976 was 1,410, and in 1978 was 940.           (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe number of doctoral degrees granted in library science rose from 14 in 1960-61 to a high of 102 in 1972-73 and declined to 73 in 1979-80.                      (Source)

A study reported in 1983 of data gathered by the Office for Library Personnel Resources on master’s and doctoral level degree recipients from ALA-accredited programs during the period 1973-74 through 1980-81 showed thatthe number of master’s level graduates dropped from 6,323 in 1973-74 to 3,776 in 1980-81, a decline of 40%. The number of earned doctoral degrees awarded remained fairly constant during that period, ranging (with the exception of 1974-75, when 78 doctoral degrees were awarded) from 46 awarded in 1979-80 to 56 awarded in 1978-79.                   (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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