The Krafty Librarian
The Krafty Librarian comments on the recent announcement of $21 million in IMLS projects to recruit new librarians.
I have been waiting for people to get back from ALA and start screaming about this, especially those NextGens who keep talking about the complete lack of entry-level library jobs.
The point that the NextGens, and that Krafty herself, miss is this: the grants are intended to "offset a current shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities, as well a looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians who are expected to retire in the next 20 years."
Read that again: school media specialists. Library school faculty. Librarians working in underserved communities. Library directors and senior librarians. Not, I repeat NOT entry-level librarians working in already oversaturated markets, or medical librarians who only want to work in a quiet hospital library where their main job is to check in journals and process interlibrary loans (clerical work, by the way, but that's a rant for another day).
We can't find school librarians willing to work in western Kansas, or in the inner cities. There aren't enough libsci PhDs who want to teach, or enough who want to be directors. We can't get black or Hispanic folks to become librarians. So, the fact is, there is a shortage in library science--a shortage of tough, dedicated people willing to make the hard choices to get ahead in their chosen field.
I feel little empathy for those who go into library school and expect to come out on the other side with an automatic ticket to a cushy professional job in an academic library. I know several very sucessful, very young librarians. We all took the same path:
Entered library school with little experience.
Worked at technology jobs while in school.
Interned while in school.
Worked at a small, rural library for almost no money to gain experience.
Moved at least once to advance career.
Moved into administration early.
Found "dream job" with decent pay and good benefits after being out of school between 24 and 36 months.
One of the main complaints is that library schools need to tell applicants the truth about the job market. I agree. I think every interview should have a disclaimer: if you want to be a french literature bibliographer at an ACRL library, you will have to WORK to get there. You will probably have to MOVE to get there. It may take YEARS. If, on the other hand, you have a commitment to the concept that knowledge is power and a willingness to implement that concept wherever you may be, you will be successful and happy in librarianship, no matter where you are.
3 comments:
I agree with a lot of what you have to say and I think we have some similar thoughts and opinions.
First off I want to say that I can not address the dearth of school librarians in underserved communities. I am not avoiding the issue, I just don't know enough about it to make a comment either way.
I completely an whole heartedly agree you that those who enter library school with the expectation that upon graduation they will have the magic ticket to a library job are kidding themselves. I have little sympathy for those people. Name any professional position that will hire a new graduate without any experience and just the degree. Law firms wouldn't think of hiring a new grad who hadn't clerked somewhere previously. New library students need to work hard while in library school to get the experience and skills necessary for the entry level positions upon their graduation. I also agree the sometimes it is necessary to make some sacrifices to get those jobs (relocate, pay, hours, etc.).
What I disagree with is the profession's continual statement that there is a shortage of librarians. The press release says, "Since First Lady Laura Bush first announced the President would support a multi-million initiative to recruit new librarians in 2002, the Institute has funded 1,537 master’s degree students, 119 doctoral students, 660 pre-professional students, and 378 continuing education students." It funded 1,537 master's degree students. These are new grads, entry level librarians! It is not just for school media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities. It is also intended for the "looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians who are expected to retire in the next 20 years"
What I disagree with is the statement that there will be "a looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians" due to retirement over the next 20 years. Since 1996 library schools have been graduating more and more students. That is almost 10 years ago! So where are all the grads from 1996?! Have they left the profession or are they poised to move into some of the management positions? Did we not graduate and hire any librarians prior to 1996? Where are those librarians? Theoretically if they are still in the work force then the new grads are replacing them in their old positions. According to Holt and Strock, the ALA reports there will be 41,000 job openings due to growth and replacement between 2000-2010. Of those, the current experienced librarians will move into the retiring management positions and the newbies will get the entry level positions. At 5,000 new grads per year, there are certainly not enough entry level positions available that were vacated by current librarians moving up the ladder to newly vacant management positions.
If like you say, "there is a shortage in library science--a shortage of tough, dedicated people willing to make the hard choices to get ahead in their chosen field." If there is a shortage of libsci PhDs who want to teach, or enough who want to be directors, then we should provide opportunities to encourage current librarians to go for those positions. The grant helps with that. I am not against the grant itself at all. What I am frustrated by is the fact that people are continually saying there is an overall massive shortage of librarians when there may not be.
check out
http://www.explodedlibrary.info/2005/06/more_of_my_thou.html
About more of the librarian shortage issue.
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