Library Journal article about the tendancy of academic libraries to fill their positions with non-librarians.
Academic libraries now hire an increasing number of individuals to fill professional librarian positions who do not have the master’s degree in library science. Instead of appointing librarians with the traditional qualifying credential, they hire staff to fill librarian positions who hold a variety of qualifications, such as advanced degrees in subject disciplines, specialized language skills, teaching experience, or technology expertise.
As a future librarian aspiring to work in an academic library, I’m obviously a little worried about precious professional positions being taken by non-librarians. However, I agree with Mr. Neal in his summary that integrating ‘feral professionals’ into the academic library is bound to incite a certain amount of revolution in the way academic libraries, and librarians, view themselves and the services they offer. Read any article out there today on the modern librarian, and it becomes fairly obvious that it is a role that is constantly changing and re-evaluating itself. Libraries have to offer new services in new ways to new patrons, especially academic libraries who are consistently thrown against new, young, and tech-savvy patrons.
In comparisn, I’ve read lots of stories about librarians who go out and use their degree to find non-library positions. I’m curious how the ratio compares between non-librarians taking professional library positions vs librarians finding professional non-librarian employment. I imagine that, somewhere, it all evens out.