General

 A survey in 1970 of all libraries of all types in the 3-county Detroit metropolitan area conducted by the Wayne State University Department of Library Science (116 libraries responding, including 57% of the school libraries, 94% of the academic libraries, 80% of the special libraries, and 92% of the public libraries) showed that75% of all libraries of all types reported no preference for any particular age level, while 25% indicated their greatest need was for librarians under 35 years of age; the need for black librarians was reported only by the large public and school library systems; and 4 school districts and 10 public libraries reported their greatest need was for male librarians.                     (Source)

 The experience of a single new 1976 library school graduate without previous experience in the 1976 job market applying for specifically advertised professional-level library openings by submitting a job-specific cover letter and resume showed thatthe following was the response rate to 206 applications:

                 TYPE OF LIBRARY             # LIBRARIES        # RESPONDING                    (%)

                academic                                        106                             87                                 82%

                public                                              48                             35                                 73%

                special                                             34                             24                                 71%

                federal                                               7                               4                                 57%

                state                                                  6                               5                                 83%

                cooperative                                       5                               5                               100%

                TOTAL                                         206                            160                                 78%

                                                                                                         

                 TYPE OF POSITION

                administrative                                   80                              65                                 81%

                reference                                         66                             50                                 75%

                acquisitions/technical services           30                             22                                 73%

                circulation                                        22                              17                                 77%

                cataloging                                          5                               3                                 60%

                media/microforms                              3                               3                               100%

                TOTAL                                         206                            160                                 78%

                                                                                                                                                         (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe following was the average wait for a response:

                 TYPE OF LIBRARY                  # LIBRARIES     3 RESPONDING

                academic                                              87                      17

                public                                                    35                      17

                special                                                  24                      14

                federal                                                    4                      45

                state                                                       5                      10

                cooperative                                            5                      12

                TOTAL                                              106                      17    

 

                TYPE OF POSITION

                administrative                                        65                      18

                reference                                              50                      19

                acquisitions/technical services                22                      14

                circulation                                             17                      14

                cataloging                                               3                        7

                media/microforms                                   3                      17

                TOTAL                                              160                      17    

                                                                                                                 (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, of the 160 libraries requesting further information, 33 (21%) requested formal applications, 24 (15%) requested references and 19 (12%) requested transcripts. However, almost all the employers offering extensive consideration did ask for references.                 (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, of the 106 positions for which responses were received, the average wait was as follows:

                 TYPE OF LIBRARY                         # LIBRARIES         AVERAGE WAIT (DAYS)

                academic                                                              52                                44

                public                                                                   26                                37

                special                                                                   18                                25

                federal                                                                    4                                45

                state                                                                       3                                47

                cooperative                                                             3                                26

                TOTAL                                                               106                                39   

 

                TYPE OF POSITION

                administrative                                                        44                                42

                reference                                                               33                                40

                acquisitions/technical services                                 17                                35

                circulation                                                               8                                31

                cataloging                                                               2                                31

                media/microforms                                                   2                                21

                TOTAL                                                              106                                39 

                                                                                                                        (Source)

 A survey reported in 1977 of the larger employers of librarians in the state of Indiana, including academic, public, special, and school libraries (31 institutions or systems queried; 30 responding) showed thatthe top-ranked criteria for hiring (ranked #1 by 20 respondents) was how the candidate handled the personal interview. Further, 18 ranked work experience second or third, and 20 ranked recommendations from former employers second or third. 27 ranked library school grades as fourth, fifth, or sixth in importance.                (Source)

 A study of academic job advertisements at 5-year intervals (1959,1964, 1969, 1974, and 1979) over a 20-year period taken from 3 library journals (Library Journal, ALA Bulletin/American Libraries, and College and Research Libraries/College and Research Libraries News), excluding jobs that were primarily administrative or technical in nature for a total of 1,254 jobs, showed thatoverall the types of jobs available were as follows:

                 cataloger                                                            362 jobs,        28.9% of total

                reference librarian                                               246 jobs,        19.6% of total

                subject specialist                                                 178 jobs,        14.2% of total

                general librarian                                                  177 jobs,         14.1% of total

                technical services librarian                                   158 jobs,        12.6% of total

                branch head                                                         56 jobs,           4.5% ot total

                circulation librarian                                               53 jobs,           4.2% of total

                rare book/special collections librarian                   18 jobs,           1.4% of total

                bibliographic instruction librarian                             6 jobs,            .5% of total              (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 48 (26.0%) of the jobs advertised required an M.L.S., of which only 9 (4.9%) of the jobs required an ALA-accredited M.L.S., while by 1979, 244 (97.6%) of the jobs required an M.L.S., of which 193 (77.2%) required an ALA-accredited M.L.S.                 (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 70 (37.8%) of the jobs advertised required library experience, of which 20 (10.8%) required specialized experience, while by 1979, 171 (68.4%) of the jobs required library experience, of which 138 (55.2%) required specialized experience.              (Source)

        Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 1 (.5%) job required a subject master’s degree and no particular subject was specified, while by 1979 69 (27.6%) of the jobs required a subject master’s degree, of which 40 (16.0%) required a specific subject area.  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that generally the number of qualifications for professional jobs had increased during the 20-year period. Specifically, the number of jobs requiring:

                 a foreign language increased from 38 (20.5%) of the jobs in 1959 to 88 (35.2%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 computer expertise increased from 0 in 1959 to 103 (41.2%) of the jobs in 1979;

                subject background increased from 20 (10.8%) of the jobs in 1959 to 81 (32.4%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 AV knowledge increased from 1 (.5%) of the jobs in 1959 to 18 (7.2%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 teaching experience increased from 2 (1.1%) of the jobs in 1959 to 11 (4.4%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 specific library expertise increased from 10 (5.4%) of the jobs in 1959 to 52 (20.8%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 communicative ability increased from 2 (1.1%) of the jobs in 1959 to 34 (13.6%) of the jobs in 1979;

                 administrative ability increased from 1 (.5%) job in 1959 to 28 (11.2%) of the jobs in 1979.                     (Source)

 A review of the help-wanted ads in American Libraries and Library Journal for odd-numbered years from 1961 through 1979 plus 1980 for all aspects of librarianship at all levels showed thatfrom 1967 on the number of M.L.S.’s granted exceeded jobs advertised as follows:

                 YEAR             TOTAL ADS IN             INDEX           M.L.S. DEGREES         INDEX

                                                AL & LJ                                                 GRANTED

                        1961                           2,826                              100                          1,931                           100

                        1963                           3,159                              112                         2,363                           122

                        1965                           3,673                              130                         3,211                           166

                        1967                           4,401                              156                         4,489                           233

                        1969                           3,171                              112                         5,932                           307

                        1971                           1,505                               53                         7,001                           363

                        1973                           1,071                               38                         7,696                           393

                        1975                           1,105                               39                         8,091                           419

                        1977                           1,215                               43                         7,572                           392

                        1979                                    1,384                               49                         5,906                           306

                        1980                                    1,508                               53                         5,374                           278

                         ( Source)

A study reported in 1981 of academic job openings listed in Library Journal during the period 1970-79 (2,531 openings) showed that1,237 (49%) were public service positions, 897 (35%) were technical services openings, and 397 (16%) were administrative openings.                        (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thata cyclical pattern of job availability took place during the decade, beginning with a decline in 1970-72 (from 263 positions in 1970 to 167 in 1972) followed by an upswing in 1973-76 (from 229 positions in 1973 to 354 positions in 1976), which was followed by another decline in 1977-79 (from 317 positions in 1977 to 200 positions in 1979).   (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe regional distribution of job openings listed generally corresponded to the distribution of academic librarians employed in that region (based on 1970 statistics) in the Southeast, Southwest, and West, while the Northeast had fewer openings compared to the number of academic librarians employed in that area and the Midwest had more. Specifically: 

                Northeast           26% openings       32% present positions

                Southwest          15% openings       16% present positions

                Midwest             33% openings       26% present positions

                Southwest          10% openings       10% present positions

                West                  16% openings       16% present positions              (Source)

 Academic

 A 1977 survey of the cataloging department heads in the library of each of the universities with American Library Association accredited graduate library programs (survey size: 60 libraries; responding: 42 or 70%) showed that25 (60%) respondents reported a preference to hire their catalogers just out of library school, while 8 (19%) required new cataloging employees to have at least 2 years of experience. 4 (9%) respondents reported they hired both new and experienced catalogers, while 5 (12%) did not answer the question.             (Source)

 A survey reported in 1978 of 407 academic and public libraries who had filled professional positions (61% [no number given] responding with 233 or 57% usable responses) showed thatthere was an average of 73 applicants for each academic library position and 47 for each public library position. Broken down by level: entry level averaged 92 applicants per position for academic libraries and 65 for public libraries, departmental level averaged 58 applicants per academic library position and 36 per public library position, administrative level averaged 73 applicants per academic position and 50 per public position.              (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatin academic libraries there was an average of 110 applicants per reference position, 109 per audiovisual position, 69 per acquisitions, and 55 per cataloging position [conflicting data given concerning circulation], while in public libraries there was an average of 31 applicants per cataloging position and 26 per reference position, with no data available for other positions.                  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that over 50% of the respondents ranked the following factors “very” or “most” important in candidates’ obtaining an interview: vita (60%), experience (56%), letters of recommendation (54%), initial application letter accompanying vita (52%).                     (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe following factors were “very” or “most” important in making the final selection: knowledgeability (88%), ability to articulate this knowledge (79%), community relationship (62%), personality (42%), and appearance (33%).     ((Source)

         Ibid…. showed that respondents reported hiring someone known to a search committee member prior to the search in 25% of the academic library cases and 21% of the public library cases.                         (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that71% of the academic libraries reported affirmative action of “somewhat” or “considerable” importance in the hiring process, compared to 41% of the public libraries so reporting. In both groups 5% of the positions were filled with ethnic minorities, and both groups estimated that about 5% of the applicant pool consisted of ethnic minorities.            (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatin academic libraries females were hired in 47% of the cases with the pool estimated at 48%, while in public libraries 37% of the positions were filled by females out of an estimated pool of 30%.                  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatin 66% of the cases the hiring institution paid either unconditionally or conditionally for the interview costs. (The condition usually meant the costs were paid unless the applicant turned down an offered position.)                (Source)

        Ibid…. showed that25% of respondents felt that the applicant should request letters of recommendation, 33% preferred for the committee to request them in their own way, 16% preferred letters sent only upon committee request, and 10% preferred phone references in lieu of letters.                  (Source)

 A study of academic job advertisements at 5-year intervals (1959,1964, 1969, 1974, and 1979) over a 20-year period taken from 3 library journals (Library Journal, ALA Bulletin/American Libraries, and College and Research Libraries/College and Research Libraries News), excluding jobs which were primarily administrative or technical in nature for a total of 1,254 jobs, showed thatthe percentage of advertised positions offering faculty status, while fluctuating, did not substantially change over the 20-year period. Specifically, in 1959, 85 (45.9%) of the positions indicated faculty status, while in 1979, 112 (44.8%) of the positions indicated faculty status.                  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatoverall the types of jobs available were as follows:

                cataloger                                                      362 jobs,    28.9% of total

                reference librarian                                         246 jobs,    19.6% of total

                subject specialist                                          178 jobs,    14.2% of total

                general librarian                                            177 jobs,    14.1% of total

                technical services librarian                             158 jobs,    12.6% of total

                branch head                                                   56 jobs,      4.5% ot total

                circulation librarian                                         53 jobs,      4.2% of total

                rare book/special collections librarian              18 jobs,      1.4% of total

                bibliographic instruction librarian                        6 jobs,        .5% of total               (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 48 (26.0%) of the jobs advertised required an M.L.S., of which only 9 (4.9%) of the jobs required an ALA-accredited M.L.S., while by 1979, 244 (97.6%) of the jobs required an M.L.S., of which 193 (77.2%) required an ALA-accredited M.L.S.                  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 70 (37.8%) of the jobs advertised required library experience, of which 20 (10.8%) required specialized experience, while by 1979, 171 (68.4%) of the jobs required library experience, of which 138 (55.2%) required specialized experience.                        (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that, in 1959, 1 (.5%) job required a subject master’s degree and no particular subject was specifled, while by 1979 69 (27.6%) of the jobs required a subject master’s degree, of which 40 (16.0%) required a specific subject area. (Source)

 A 1979 survey of members of the ACRL Discussion Group of Personnel Officers (sample size: 45; responding: 30) concerning entry-level requirements for professionals showed that24 out of 27 agreed that previous nonprofessional experience was an important requirement for an entry-level position. The “majority” also indicated that the experience should be in an academic library.                      (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that4 respondents reported that a foreign language was required for entry-level positions in their libraries, 16 reported that it was “very important” or “helpful,” while only 1 respondent reported it was unimportant. The languages most often required were Romance languages (26 respondents) or German (22 respondents).                 (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that20 respondents reported cataloging as requiring a foreign language, 11 reported “some reference positions” requiring foreign languages, and 7 reported subject specialists positions requiring a foreign language.               (Source)

 A survey reported in 1980 of the membership of the Association of College and Research Libraries Discussion Group of Personnel Officers of research libraries concerning the importance of resume elements (population: 54; responding: 38 or 70.4%) showed thatthe 10 resume elements rated most highly by respondents out of 43 were the following (listed in descending order of importance):

               1.         previous experience in librarianship

                          2.         current address

                    3.    telephone number

                    4.    dates of employment in previous positions

                    5.    brief description of duties in previous positions

                          6.         colleges and universities attended

                    7.    years degrees awarded

                    8.    foreign-language skills

                    9.    full chronological accounting for time after completion of education

                     10.    list of references (names and addresses)                    (Source)

Public

 A survey reported in 1978 of 407 academic and public libraries who had filled professional positions (61% [no number given] responding with 233 or 57% usable responses) showed thatthere was an average of 73 applicants for each academic library positions and 47 for each public library position. Broken down by level: entry level averaged 92 applicants per position for academic libraries and 65 for public libraries, departmental level averaged 58 applicants per academic library position and 36 per public library position, administrative level averaged 73 applicants per academic position and 50 per public position.        (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatin academic libraries there was an average of 110 applicants per reference position, 109 per audiovisual position, 69 per acquisitions, and 55 per cataloging position [conflicting data given concerning circulation], while in public libraries there was an average of 31 applicants per cataloging position and 26 per reference position, with no data available for other positions.                  (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatover 50% of the respondents ranked the following factors “very” or “most” important in candidates’ obtaining an interview: vita (60%), experience (56%), letters of recommendation (54%), initial application letter accompanying vita (52%).                    (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe following factors were “very” or “most” important in making the final selection: knowledgeability (88%), ability to articulate this knowledge (79%), community relationship (62%), personality (42%), and appearance (33%).     (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that respondents reported hiring someone known to a search committee member prior to the search in 25% of the academic library cases and 21% of the public library cases.                         (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that71% of the academic libraries reported affirmative action of “somewhat” or “considerable” importance in the hiring process, compared to 41% of the public libraries so reporting. In both groups 5% of the positions were filled with ethnic minorities, and both groups estimated that about 5% of the applicant pool consisted of ethnic minorities.         (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatin academic libraries females were hired in 47% of the cases with the pool estimated at 48%, while in public libraries 37% of positions were filled by females out of an estimated pool of 30%.                        (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatin 66% of the cases the hiring institution paid either unconditionally or conditionally for the interview costs. (The condition usually meant the costs were paid unless the applicant turned down an offered position.)                (Source)

        Ibid…. showed that25% of respondents felt that the applicant should request letters of recommendation, 33% preferred for the committee to request them in their own way, 16% preferred letters sent only upon committee request, and 10% preferred phone references in lieu of letters.                  (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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