ROLES, COMPETENCIES, & HIRING PRACTICES

Emerging Technologies Librarians

Tara M. Radniecki Engineering Librarian DeLaMare Library University of Nevada, Reno tradniecki@unr.edu twitter.com/tmradniecki

Technology Trends in Libraries QULOC

Queensland University of Technology February 10, 2014

Research Questions

•  What types of libraries are hiring emerging technologies librarians (ETLs)?

•  What are the anticipated responsibilities and required skills

upon hire and do they differ from reality?

•  Do current ETLs feel they have the skills necessary to complete all their responsibilities?

•  Are current ETLs satisfied in their current role?

Methodology

❖  ALA JobLIST ➢ 8/2006 – 10/2012 ➢ 67 job advertisements containing “emerging

technologies” in the position title ➢  67 job advertisements

❖  Surveys ➢  Current Emerging Technologies Librarians ➢  40 surveys

Results

Library Type Number of Ads Percentage Academic/Research 62 92.5%

Public 3 4.5%

Library Cooperative/System 1 1.5%

Special/Corporate 1 1.5%

Library Type Number of Ads Percentage

Academic/Research 31 77.5%

Public 5 12.5%

Special/Corporate 3 7.5%

Library Cooperative/System 1 2.5%

Advertisements

Surveys

Job Duties

Duty # of Ads % of Ads # of Surveys

% of Surveys

Trendspotting & Implementation 48 72% 29 81%

Website Management 30 45% 15 42%

Reference Activities 28 42% 26 72%

Info Literacy & Instruction 26 39% 22 61%

Collaboration – External & Internal 26 39%

Liaison 21 31% 14 39%

Creating Online Learning Materials 18 27%

Technology assessment & evaluation 17 25%

Social Media/Web 2.0/Outreach 17 25% 22 61%

Technology Training 16 24% 22 61%

IT/Systems 14 20% 8 22%

Digital Initiatives 11 16% 11 25%

Skills & Experience: Ads

Skills & Experience # Required % Required # Preferred % Preferred

Social Media/Web 2.0 16 23.9% 5 7.5%

Info Lit/Instruction 14 20.9% 7 10.4%

Work Collaboratively 12 18% - -

Emerging Tech. 11 16.4% 3 4.5%

Programming/ Scripting Languages 11 16.4% 6 9%

Advertisements

Skills & Experience: Surveys

Skills & Experience # Required % Required # Preferred % Preferred

Social Media/Web 2.0 16 23.9% 5 7.5%

Info Lit/Instruction 14 20.9% 7 10.4%

Work Collaboratively 12 18% - -

Emerging Tech. 11 16.4% 3 4.5%

Programming/ Scripting Languages 11 16.4% 6 9%

Advertisements

•  47% of survey participants said they did not feel they had all the skills to succeed.

•  94% of those respondents wanted additional

skills in computer programming & coding.

•  69% wanted skills & knowledge in web

design.

Job Satisfaction

•  “Opportunities to use skills & abilities”3

•  55% felt their skills & knowledge were being used to their full potential

•  45% did not

•  “Communication between employees and senior management” •  59% received adequate administrative support for emerging tech

projects •  41% did not

•  Financial, equipment, staff, training, flexibility, moral support, encouragement of staff buy-in, time for exploration and experimentation

Libraries Considering an ETL

•  Determine all job responsibilities and qualifications prior to listing. •  Do you really need an Emerging Technologies Librarian? •  Do you need a Web Librarian, Systems Librarian, Reference

Librarian, or Digital Initiatives Librarian instead?

•  Include more tech skills regardless of dept •  Coding, web design, etc.

•  Support ETL’s passion

•  More support from administration •  Allow more time for ETL work