Recruitment of New Medical Librarians

Brian Bunnett

UT Southwestern Medical Center Library

Outline of Presentation

• Problems affecting recruitment– Salaries– Supply and demand– Brain drain– Retirement

• Consequences• Suggestions

Beginning Salaries in Libraries of Various Types, 2000Public libraries $31,871

Academic libraries $33,380

School libraries $36,718

Special libraries $37,849

New MLA members (1998)

$31,066

All libraries $34,871

Average Salaries in Libraries of Various Types

Schools

(1997)$38,900

Colleges and universities (1997)

$38,600

MLA members

(1998) $44,083

SCC HLIS librarians (2000)

$34,231

Average Starting Salaries for Masters’ Level Graduates, 1999

Journalism $28,500

Librarianship $31,915

Elementary Education $33,149

Accounting $38,152

Human Resources $43,815

Advertising $46,500

Banking $47,912

Computer Science $51,438

Aerospace Engineering $54,218

Nursing $54,983

Computer Engineering $58,573

Job Seekers, Job Postings at Recent ALA Annual Meetings

Year # of Job

Postings

# of Job

Seekers

1998 874 545

1999 997 489

Effect of Retirements on Library Labor Pool

Expected retirements in the next nine years

76,000

Expected MLS graduates in the next nine years

37,600

Expected shortfall 38,400

Decrease in the Librarian Work Force- Possible Consequences

• Understaffed reference desks

• Decrease in services available

• Shorter hours

• Erosion in public confidence

• Cutback in support

• Perception of decline further impedes recruitment

Suggestions

• Represent the profession at job fairs

• Promote internships

• Increase scholarships

• Subsidize paraprofessionals

• Emphasize occupational benefits

• Increase salaries

SourcesSlide 3, Beginning Salaries

Library Journal, October 15, 2001, pp. 35-6.

MLA 1998 Salary Survey.

Slide 4, Average Salaries

MLA 1998 Salary Survey.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2000-1.

Slide 5, Masters’ Degree, Beginning Salaries

Library Journal, May 1, 2000, p. 39.

Slide 6, ALA Job Seekers/Job Postings

Library Journal, May 1, 2000, p. 39

Sources, continued

Slide 7, IT Salaries

BMLA, July 2001, p. 256.

Slide 8, Effect of Retirements

Library Journal, May 1, 2000, p. 31.

Library Journal, October 15, 2000, p. 39.