Title: Forget the Desk Job: Current Roles and Responsibilities in Entry-Level Reference Job Advertisements
Authors: Robert Detmering, Assistant Professor, Teaching and Reference Librarian in the Humanities Ekstrom Library University of Louisville
Claudene Sproles, Associate Professor, Government Information Librarian, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville
Source: College and Research Libraries (C&RL)
Abstract:
This study examines the evolving roles and responsibilities of entry-level academic reference positions, as stated in recent job advertisements posted on the American Library Association’s JobLIST website and other sources. Findings from a content analysis of these advertisements indicate that current entry-level reference positions in academic libraries incorporate a strikingly diverse and complex range of responsibilities. The study provides valuable insight into the expectations and priorities of hiring institutions in regard to entry-level reference work, offering a broad perspective on the reference job environment to library science students, first-time job seekers, and libraries seeking to recruit entry-level candidates.
Paper Accepted For Publication: October 17, 2011.
Anticipated Publication: September 2012
Direct to Full Text Article (28 pages; PDF)
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