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, 2000 Public 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

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 shortfall38,400

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

Sources Slide 3, Beginning Salaries Library Journal, October 15, 2001, pp MLA 1998 Salary Survey. Slide 4, Average Salaries MLA 1998 Salary Survey. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 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 Slide 8, Effect of Retirements Library Journal, May 1, 2000, p. 31. Library Journal, October 15, 2000, p. 39.