Ready, Set, Hire! Perceptions of new technical services librarian preparedness

Abstract

This study explored the perceived preparedness of entry-level technical services librarians upon graduating from a Master of Library Science/Information Science (MLS/IS) degree program and collected employment data on technical services librarians, including hiring, retiring, and position consolidation and elimination. An electronic survey was distributed to library administrators and technical services librarians from public and academic libraries located across the United States. The investigators identified discrepancies between how prepared entry-level technical services librarians felt upon graduating, and how prepared administrators perceived them to be. Data gathered from both administrators and entry-level technical services librarians suggest both groups felt current MLS/IS degree programs do not fully prepare technical services librarians for their first professional jobs, yet desired skills and areas of knowledge identified as lacking varied between the two groups. The investigators discovered employment trends which indicate relatively low turnover or consolidation and support projections of low-moderate growth over the next decade.