Leaving Science for LIS: Interviews and a Survey of Librarians with Scientific and Technical Degrees
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/istl1927Abstract
This research addresses why scientists and engineers choose to become librarians and information scientists and how the library profession can identify and encourage these newcomers. Presented as a panel discussion at the 2001 Annual Conference of the Special Libraries Association, the questions addressed in this research reflect the concerns of LIS professionals as they recruit librarians who have scientific or technical backgrounds. Results from interviews and a survey posted on selected mailing lists reveal details of career shifts from science and engineering to LIS. An influential factor in such moves was personal recruitment by LIS professionals.
Downloads
References
Dewey, B. 1986. Science background required--others need not apply: a study of the science librarian hiring crisis. In: Proceedings of the 49th ASIS Annual Meeting, pp. 64-68. Medford, NJ: Learned Information.
Frank, D. G. 1989. Education for librarians in a major science-engineering library: expectations and reality. Journal of Library Administration 11(3/4):107-116.
Hackenberg, J. M. 2000. Who chooses sci-tech librarianship? College and Research Libraries 61(5): 441-50.
Hallmark, J. 1998. Education for the successful geoscience information specialist. Science and Technology Libraries No.17(2): 81-91.
Hallmark, J. and Seidman, R. K., eds. 1998. Sci-tech librarianship: education and training. Science & Technology Libraries 17(2) [entire issue devoted to topic].
Haselbauer, K. 1984. The making of a science librarian. Science & Technology Libraries 3/4:111-116.
Hooper-Lane, C. 1999. Spotlight on the subject knowledge of chemistry librarians: results of a survey. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship [Online]. Available: http://www.istl.org/99-summer/article1.html [March 12, 2002].
Lucker, J. K. 1998. The changing nature of scientific and technical librarianship: a personal perspective over 40 years. Science & Technology Libraries No. 17(2): 3-10.
Mount, E. 1985. University Science and Engineering Libraries. 2d edition. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Peterson, C. and Kajiwara, S. 1999. Scientific literacy skills for non-science librarians: bootstrap training. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship. [Online] Available: http://www.istl.org/99-fall/article3.html [March 12, 2002].
Silverman, E. R. 1993. Chemical information: a career alternative for chemists. The Scientist 7(6):21.
Storm, P. and Wei, W. 1994. Issues related to the education and recruitment of science/technology librarians. Science & Technology Libraries 14(3): 35-43.
Stuart, C. and Drake, M. A. 1992. Education and recruitment of science and engineering librarians. Science and Technology Libraries 12(Summer): 79-89.
Wiggins, G. 1998. New directions in the education of chemistry librarians and information specialists. Science and Technology Libraries 17(2):45-58.
Winston, M. D. 2001. Academic science and engineering librarians: a research study of demographics, educational backgrounds, and professional activities. Science and Technology Libraries 19(2):3-24.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2003 Julie Hallmark, Mary Frances Lembo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
