Placement: Employment Outlook

Employment Outlook
If the economy is rebounding, the library world has yet to feel it. The budget constraints of the last several years are now showing up in salary growth that lags behind inflation and in job searches that seem endless and are three times as long, on average, as last year." Stephanie Matta [Library Journal, "Placements and Salaries 2003" but still mostly true today].


Accurate predictions are always a bit fuzzy. Your best bet is to check the current Occupational Handbook, an annual publication prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides substantial useful information for librarians, but some data is not current. There are also outlooks for other information related professions. Here we focus on librarians. In 2008, the Handbook reported:

"Employment change
Employment of librarians is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2006 and 2016, slower than the average for all occupations. Growth in the number of librarians will be limited by government budget constraints and the increasing use of electronic resources. Both will result in the hiring of fewer librarians and the replacement of librarians with less costly library technicians and assistants. As electronic resources become more common and patrons and support staff become more familiar with their use, fewer librarians are needed to maintain and assist users with these resources. In addition, many libraries are equipped for users to access library resources directly from their homes or offices through library Web sites. Some users bypass librarians altogether and conduct research on their own. However, librarians will still be needed to manage staff, help users develop database-searching techniques, address complicated reference requests, choose materials, and help users to define their needs."
Jobs for librarians outside traditional settings will grow the fastest over the decade. Nontraditional librarian jobs include working as information brokers and working for private corporations, nonprofit organizations, and consulting firms. Many companies are turning to librarians because of their research and organizational skills and their knowledge of computer databases and library automation systems. Librarians can review vast amounts of information and analyze, evaluate, and organize it according to a company’s specific needs. Librarians also are hired by organizations to set up information on the Internet. Librarians working in these settings may be classified as systems analysts, database specialists and trainers, webmasters or web developers, or local area network (LAN) coordinators."
Job prospects
More than 2 out of 3 librarians are aged 45 or older, which will result in many job openings over the next decade as many librarians retire. However, recent increases in enrollments in MLS programs will prepare a sufficient number of new librarians to fill these positions. Opportunities for public school librarians, who are usually drawn from the ranks of teachers, should be particularly favorable."
Salaries
Obviously, salaries vary with experiences, skills, and location. Librarians in management positions earn the most. The Handbook for 2008 reports:


"Salaries of librarians vary according to the individual’s qualifications and the type, size, and location of the library. Librarians with primarily administrative duties often have greater earnings. Median annual earnings of librarians in May 2006 were $49,060. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,250 and $60,800. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,930, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $74,670. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of librarians in 2006 were as follows:

Junior colleges $52,030
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 51,160
Elementary and secondary schools 50,710
Local government 44,960
Other information services 44,170"
Variables To Consider
It is difficult to generalize about placement because so many variables are involved. Placement opportunity varies with type of information agency, type of activity or function, and geographical area. Variables most likely to influence placement success include: personality and manner; vitality and enthusiasm; pre-professional work experience; subject knowledge; ability to cope with ambiguity and change; intelligence; academic performance; and quality and amount of effort in seeking a position. Non-traditional positions in information management offer an opportunity for graduates with an entrepreneurial personality and a strong background in information technology.
Where Opportunities Are Best
Employment opportunities are best for graduates with academic background in business, science, and technology; graduates with extensive pre-professional experience; graduates who are pleasantly aggressive, personable, and outgoing; graduates who feel comfortable with evaluation and planning; graduates who performed at a high level while at SIS; and graduates who are flexible in their position choices and are not tied to a particular geographic area.

Employers place particular importance on meaningful pre-professional experience, or professional experience in a related field, and in information technology competence and understanding.

Although placement can be difficult, there are never enough genuinely outstanding graduates. If you want to be a music librarian and positions are limited, you should consider alternatives such as humanities reference or music cataloging. Still, if you know what you want to do, prepare as best you can and then go for it. Do consider fall back positions if you don't find what you want.
Thoughtful Preparation
The more that you know about the profession and the job market, the more successful that you will be. Below are a few digital resources that should give you a better sense of the current information. Do spend some time on current awareness. Several years ago, I encountered a student who withdrew from our program in the second semester when he discovered typical entry level salaries. That's something that you should know at the beginning.

BY:-
PRANJALI PRIYA
PGDM 2nd SEM