It’s a good time to be in school
I hear a lot of conflicting reports about employment prospects for librarians. When I first expressed interest in a career in librarianship, I was told quite enthusiastically by classmates that a wave of retirements in the next ten years would leave a lot of openings for young librarians. Of course, this was in the summer of 2008, before the Recession of Doom struck.
This article claims that special librarians will have it made in 2009, but school and public librarians may have trouble finding a job. Of course, this is probably a reflection of the generally troubled economic times we’re in. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also warns that growth in the field will be sluggish but mitigated by the retirement of many professionals in the field.
At the end of the day, this is a great time to be in school. With any luck, but the time I’ve finished my MLIS and am thrust head-first into the job market, the financiapocalypse will have run its course, and the Canadian economy will have recovered.
I graduated from library school in 2003. We heard the same line about retirements. A friend of mine graduated from library school in the mid-90s. She heard the same line about retirements. I think everyone has heard that line about retirements
There is some truth to it, but it is slow going. At my previous library, one department added three new librarians in less than one year—all due to retirements. Unfortunately, due to the current economy many libraries can’t hire right now–they have either lost positions or are under a hiring freeze. Plus, some librarians are waiting to retire because their retirement accounts took a hit. However, it will pick up–eventually. I have a feeling that when the economy and retirement accounts pick back up again, there will be a rash of retirements.
Despite all that, I think it is a great time to be in library school. I attended from 2001-2003 and was there when the profession was just beginning to change. Just six short years later, I have a feeling that library school has changed a lot.
Thanks for your thoughts, Elizabeth. I guess it’s one of those things they say to lure you into the profession, eh?
I’m not too worried about employment prospects yet. In Canada, we haven’t been hit nearly as hard with the recession, and unemployment is still low. I have a feeling that the job market for librarians is less bleak than it is south of the border.