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What impressions do young people have of librarianship as a career? Attracting young people to the profession Sarah Newbutt The Grammar School at Leeds Barbara Sen The University of Sheffield

Attracting Young People in Bologna

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Presentation given with Barbara Sen at IFLA Satellite Conference in Bologna 2009.

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Page 1: Attracting Young People in Bologna

What impressions do young people have of librarianship as a career?Attracting young people to the profession

Sarah Newbutt The Grammar School at LeedsBarbara Sen The University of Sheffield

Page 2: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Idea for the research

• Response to Library Workforce Survey 2005 – UK study

• 56.6% of workforce aged 40-59• 6% of workforce aged between 60-69

•Over half of people who work in libraries are soon to be reaching retirement age

•Not enough young people are coming into the profession to take their place

• Similar problem in USA and Australia

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 3: Attracting Young People in Bologna

What does this mean?

• Staffing Crisis•Need to recruit young people

• Barriers• To people entering the profession

• A Need for Solutions•What we can do to attract more young people

into librarianship

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 4: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Quotation– Ard et al (2006)

“In the eyes of many youth, maybe librarians lack the glamour of…other disciplines, or perhaps people with

more life experience have had more opportunities to develop a deeper

appreciation of the nature of library work.”

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 5: Attracting Young People in Bologna

The literature

• Problems identified:• Perceptions of the profession, libraries and librarians -

stereotypes• Lack of careers advice• Misunderstanding of what the librarian’s role entails• Lack of awareness of the scope of libraries, i.e. most

young people only have experience of school, academic or public libraries.

• Misunderstanding of the skills and qualifications needed

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 6: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Overview of the issues

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• Staffing Crisis• Need to recruit young people

• Barriers• To people entering the profession

• A Need for Solutions• What we can do to attract more young people into

librarianship

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Research aims

• To discover young people’s impressions of librarianship as a career

• To identify what barriers there are to young people entering the profession

• To explore what appeals about librarianship as a career choice

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 8: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Two questionnairesYoung People

• 19 respondents• Age span 18-24• 14 female• 5 male• Roughly 50:50 split

students/in employment

• Jobs ranged from teachers, IT, sales, ice cream van driver!

Librarianship Students• 16 respondents• 4 aged 18-24 years old

• 11 were aged 25-39 years old

• 1 was over 40 years old• 1 no answer• All had some library

experience across a range of sectors

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 9: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Results of the questionnaires

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Barrier:Misunderstanding of the librarians’ role

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“SHOUT at people!”

“Put booksback onshelves”

“Researching"

“Till work”“Managing staff and resources”

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Barrier:Lack of awareness of where we work

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Awareness of the librarians’ roles

• Librarianship students’ perceptions:• All librarianship students felt they had an

increased awareness of the role of librarianship work since taking the MA Librarianship course, including an increased awareness of different sectors and job titles

•Many were surprised at the emphasis placed on information technology and information literacy

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Page 13: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Barrier:Young people’s use of libraries

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Respondents use of libraries

Young People• 73.7% had used a

public library• 57.9% had used a

school library• 52.6% had used a

college or university library

Librarianship Students• 100% had used a

public library• 46.7% had used

school library• 100% had used a

college or university library

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 15: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Barrier:Appeal of the profession

• 15.8% said they had considered becoming a librarian because of their love of books• 2 of these respondents knew people who worked in libraries (42% of

the respondents knew people who work in libraries)

• 84.2% had not considered becoming a librarian because:• “Boring/wouldn’t suit my interests”• “Lack of careers advice“• “Already decided on a different career”• “Seems an unintellectually challenging job”

• 5 of these respondents admitted they did not understand what the job entails. One specifically highlighted “… not a lot of information given on the job at school or careers advice.”

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 16: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Appeal of the profession to librarianship students

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Rank Reason Score

1Based on prior experience of working in libraries/wanting professional

development9

2 Passion for working with/meeting/helping public/users/new people 9

3 Passion for reading 7

4 Interest in education 5

5 Based on experience of using libraries 3

6 Based on university degree experience 3

7 Mix of skills – interesting and varied 3

8 Important job 2

9 Money 2

10 Natural curiosity – suits personally 1

11 Research 1

12 Sociable and Creative lifestyle 1

Page 17: Attracting Young People in Bologna

What librarianship students said...

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“I wanted a job that would be interesting and varied”

“I was influenced by people I met who were

librarians”

“I think that reading

and..access to knowledge.. Are two very important things, and

the opportunity to be involved in this seemed to good to pass

up.”

Page 18: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Perceptions of librarians• Librarianship students’ perceptions:

• Learned more about librarians from the course• Fellow course mates had changed their

perceptions or librarians and future librarians•Aware of stereotypical images “Boring people

who wore cardigans”•Stereotypes didn’t deter them from entering the

profession.•Positive self perceptions as librarians of the

future.

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Page 19: Attracting Young People in Bologna

The Barriers

• Invisibility of the profession• Negative stereotypes• Qualifications required• Poor careers advice• Lack of job opportunities• Money - low salaries

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Page 20: Attracting Young People in Bologna

The Barriers:What one librarianship student said

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“When you’re younger (and often older!) you want to do a sexy job that pays a fortune…It’s hard to sell librarianship

on these grounds.”

Page 21: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Comparison of perceived barriers

Young People• Stereotypes• Poor careers advice• Already decided on a

different career (lack of awareness of librarianship?)

• Not challenging/not intellectual

• Wouldn’t suit personality

Librarianship Students• Stereotypes• Poor careers advice• Lack of awareness• Qualifications• Lack of job

opportunities• Money – low salaries

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Page 22: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Where did librarianship students want to work?

• The course had opened up options or changed their minds about opportunities

• 40% had changed their preferred sector choices completely

• “The library world is my oyster. I’ll see what grabs me.”

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 23: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Summary

Key issues

Page 24: Attracting Young People in Bologna

What attracts people to the profession?

• Love of books and reading• The variety of the job• Wanting to help users• Positive influence from library professionals• Plenty of opportunities to engage with

these, e.g. customer service, reader development, team work, varied projects

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 25: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Barriers to young people

• Stereotypical image of librarians – particularly regarding age

• Lack of awareness of the roles of librarians• Lack of education about career

opportunities in libraries

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 26: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Conclusions

• The findings of this study supported evidence from the literature that:• Library stereotypes persist•There is a lack of careers advice•Libraries lack visibility for many young

people

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 27: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Possible solutions for discussion

• Self-promotion• Leading by example• Increase awareness• Increase visibility

•Marketing and promotion• Engagement with Web 2.0 technologies•New buildings, improving library environment

• Banish negative stereotypes

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 28: Attracting Young People in Bologna

On a positive note -

• The library students surveyed hadn’t been put off by the stereotypes they had encountered

• Saw themselves differently• And where enthusiastic about their new

careers and the difference they could make in the profession

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009

Page 29: Attracting Young People in Bologna

Any Questions?

Or please contact me at a later date: [email protected]

IFLA Satellite Meeting Bologna 2009