Challenges, Opportunities, and Progress in Librarianship since the Great Recession: An Examination of Graduate ALA-Accredited Curricula, the Workforce, and Professional Development Trends

Authors

Jonathan Torres, Rutgers University - NewarkFollow
Naomi Gold, Rutgers University - NewarkFollow
Jaimie Donnelly, Georgian Court UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 3-16-2022

Comments

The data that was collected for this study will be published in an open repository.

Abstract

The article asserts that practical experience is a critical and too often neglected component in Master of Library and Information Science/Library and Information Studies (MLIS/LIS) graduate programs. It advocates for the necessity of enhancing professional development initiatives such as mandating internships as a condition of graduation, which will offer students a significantly greater chance of successfully transitioning from graduate study to professional employment. It investigates U.S. workforce trends from 2008-2020, which reveal the competitiveness of the field and the difficulties experienced by graduates attempting to obtain employment in the absence of concrete, hands-on, library-based experience.