Published: June 18, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
For several years, the research-heavy
MLIS Skills at Work report has been compiled by the Career
Services department at the iSchool. The 2024 edition of this
highly respected annual report for library job seekers nationwide
is now available to help
you get a jump on your career exploration!
In this report you will find…
- examples of job titles other than “Librarians”;
- highlights of current trends in the hiring space: AI,
hybrid-work, and data analysis skills; and - detailed comparisons of 2024 job postings against postings
from previous years that will enable you to track areas of growth
and contraction in the LIS job market.
Why Read this Report?
This is an excellent resource for current and future MLIS
students who want a better understanding of what employers are
seeking in successful job candidates. It also provides a guide
for students who want to best prepare themselves for the job
market by learning which skills are in-demand and choosing
courses and extracurriculars that support those skills.
How is the data collected?
Per the report’s introductory information, “The most recent jobs
report analyzes and discusses a random sample of 400 job postings
for library and information science (LIS) professionals posted on
24 LIS-specific and general job search websites between February
1 and April 15, 2024. The data cover employer types, job titles,
in-demand skills, job-specific experience, and job duties.”
(MLIS
Skills at Work, 2024) So yep, the good news is you didn’t
have to do all that research yourself….
How is the Report Organized?
The 58-page report begins by highlighting trends before moving
into a breakdown of types of employers, skills, job duties, and
representative job titles.
A few highlights to note:
- 75% of jobs require or strongly recommend an MLIS
degree - Among all library categories, positions in Archives,
Preservation, and Special Collections have grown the most year
over year - Research, Reference, and Readers Advisory are the most
commonly listed skills in job posts
What’s the Most Effective Way to Use This
Information?
While it’s helpful to have a general understanding of the hiring
landscape, there are a couple of action items that students can
take after reviewing this report.
Make note of the sample job titles within your realm of interest
in order to have the right keywords while looking for a job. For
example, instead of only looking for “Archive” positions, you can
try “Conservator” or “Curator.”
View the LIS skills in Demand on slide 15 to see what areas you
may need more experience in. After finding your areas for
improvement, you can find courses or resources like blog posts that can help you
strengthen these areas.
As a student, you may think you don’t need to consider career
options just yet, but it’s never too early to get started! Take
some time in the quieter months of summer to review this report.
Find Out More
Selected Career Opportunities
-
Library Assistant,
Circulation at Folger
Shakespeare Library, Washington D.C. -
Teaching &
Learning Librarian at University
of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
Source link
All Materials on this website/blog are only for Learning & Educational purposes. It is strictly recommended to buy the products from the original owner/publisher of these products. Our intention is not to infringe any copyright policy. If you are the copyright holder of any of the content uploaded on this site and don’t want it to be here. Instead of taking any other action, please contact us. Your complaint would be honored, and the highlighted content will be removed instantly.