Librarianship is constantly confronted with unexpected and quickly evolving sociotechnical challenges, yet the documents that define the core professional competencies for librarians are infrequently updated. Based upon survey responses collected from 383 working librarians located in the United States, we describe a set of gaps between current…

Background: The recruitment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) has been an ongoing effort for specialized libraries and library programs, especially as they try to fill technical roles while combatting internalized biases and candidates' potential self-deselection by not applying or otherwise removing themselves from the recruitment…

This paper surveys the (patchy and uneven) advances in LIS impact evaluation over the past ten years and notes the surge forward in public library impact evaluation, before looking more broadly at the international and educational impact evaluation scene and noting the advance of programme-theory driven approaches. The authors then identify…

Many scholars and professionals have noted in recent years that the United States is experiencing a transformation to an economy based upon knowledge. However, researchers have only begun to explore how the essence of such an economy, the creation of wealth by organizations through their use of information, works empirically. This study provides…

Introduction: Reports the conduct of a national survey in Sweden to establish the desired research priorities for libraries. The research sought to establish what evidence-base is needed for evidence-based practice. Method: The Delphi method was employed to solicit opinions on the kinds of research needed by libraries of all kinds in Sweden.…

Replicating to a high degree the results of the Olsgaard profile of authorship characteristics in academic library journals, this study analyzed five journals of interest to special librarians to determine gender, geographic location, and occupation of author contributors. Results indicate that women are consistently underrepresented in the…

A survey of 452 special librarians was conducted by the Special Libraries Association to identify what they want new graduates to know. Communication skills, reference skills, and an attitude of service were considered by respondents to be more important than second master's degrees and management skills. (Author/EM)

This survey of 124 special librarians suggests that library schools should emphasize a well-rounded curriculum to prepare students to function effectively in any professional position, rather than to train them for specific positions. The questionnaire used focuses on educational experience, and is appended. (Author/LRW)

Traditionally, the library and information profession has not been strongly research led in the way in which other professions, such as medicine and education for example, might be considered to be. However, it may be that the extent of practitioner involvement in research and the extent to which research informs practice have been underestimated.…

Reports results of a March 1997 survey of the SLA (Special Libraries Association) Sci-Tech Division and ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) Sci-Tech Section listservs that gathered information about how, as students, sci-tech librarians gained awareness of and became interested in sci-tech librarianship. (MES)

The Canadian Association of College and Technical Libraries (CTCL) survey was mailed out to 135 CTCL member libraries in February 1996. Results paint a positive picture of the ability of Canadian college and technical libraries to incorporate new technology into their service delivery within a relatively short time frame. Eighty-five libraries…

Proposes a model for educating information professionals based on three requirements that underlie all information service: academic preparation in digital librarianship; education and practice to cultivate change management and interpersonal skills; and a practicum to develop technological perspective and provide a future orientation. Builds on…