Head of reference positions in Academic Libraries : A survey of job announcements from 1990 through 1999

A Survey of Job Announcements from 1990 through 1999 This study consists of the content analysis of 127 position announcements, issued from 1990 through 1999, for heads of reference positions in academic libraries. Each announcement was analyzed for position title, salary information, tenure or faculty status statements, Association of Research Libraries (ARL) affiliation, reporting line, job responsibilities, required skills, required educational attainment, desired skills, and desired educational attainment. The study found that similar job titles are used in the majority of announcements; less than one half mention tenure and are for positions in ARL libraries; salaries are higher than the average academic salary; and the Master of Library Science (MLS) degree and communications skills are the most frequently sought requirements. Supervising employees, instruction, and collection development are the most frequently cited responsibilities. The most cited desired qualifications are a second master's degree and supervisory experience. An analysis of library position announcements can offer important insights not only into the characteristics desired in the job but into the changes and developments that are taking place in the field as well. While a number of studies have examined librarian position announcements in general or in particular areas, few have focused on the reference field. Literature Review The analysis of librarian position announcements is a relatively common type of study conducted in the discipline of librarianship. The majority of the studies focus on analyzing trends over time, or reviewing the job market in terms of specific positions or skills. The major studies can be divided into three categories: those examining specific types of positions (such as this study), those analyzing specific skills mentioned in position advertisements, and those studying more general issues. Specific Types of Positions Several significant studies examine specific types of positions. Robinson analyzed collection development and management positions in academic libraries. By reviewing more than four hundred position announcements in College & Research Libraries News from 1980 through 1991, he found that 42 percent were full-time collection development positions, while 58 percent were positions combining collection development responsibilities with some other function; 80 percent of the combined positions involved reference responsibilities; 58 percent of the announcements were from ARL member libraries; 23 percent mentioned faculty status; and 15 percent mentioned tenure track. The two most frequently stated requirements were an MLS degree from a school accredited by the ALA, and effective communication skills.[1] A similar study by Foote examined the systems librarian position in U.S. academic libraries. She looked at position announcements in College & Research Libraries News from 1990 through 1994, focusing on position titles, responsibilities, degree requirements, required skills, reporting lines, and salaries. She found that responsibilities continuously change and position titles vary widely, but required skills generally did not change. The skill required most often was experience with technology. She also found that one third of the positions did not require an MLS, a percentage which she believed to be a concern to academic librarians.[2] Archivist positions were the focus of a 1994 study conducted by Cox. By examining more than fifteen hundred archivist position announcements appearing from 1976 through 1990, he found that the majority of advertisements were for academic librarian positions (34.3 percent), followed by state (21.6 percent) and local government (15.1 percent). The most commonly cited responsibilities were administrative (31 percent) and arrangement and description of materials (24.8 percent). The most frequently cited requirements were a graduate degree (29. …