Why are you a para-professional academic
information worker (library assistant)?

I am conducting a library research survey as
part of my MA in Library and Information
Management.  The following questionnaire is
designed to be completed by para-professional
academic information workers (library
assistants).

I am interested in hierarchical staffing
structures, the role/status of academic library
staff and why they decided to join the LIS
profession.

Please spare a few minutes to complete the
questionnaire, but DO NOT automatically respond
to this message.  By pressing 'Reply', you can
fill in the questionnaire and then send it back
to me, but please send your response to:
[log in to unmask]

If you prefer to print off the questionnaire and
send it via the postal system then please return
it to:
S.J.Hughes
Subject Librarian
Eagle Learning Centre
Bolton Institute of Higher Education
Deane Road
Bolton
BL3 5AB

Please put an asterix or the appropriate number
between the brackets e.g. [ * ] for each answer
or use the space provided.

All responses will be kept strictly confidential
and should be submitted by the
31st January 2001.

Thank you, in anticipation.

Sam

Para-professional Information Worker(library
assistant) Questionnaire


1)  Have you done any job other than library
assistant?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]

If 'Yes', what were the main ones?



2)  Number of years spent as a library assistant?
Less than 1  [   ]
1-5  [   ]
More than 5  [   ]

3)  Are you qualified (NVQ) as a library
assistant?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]

4)  Do you intend to pursue graduate study in
library science to become a librarian?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]
Uncertain  [   ]

If you answered 'Yes' to the above question,
please go onto question 7.

If you answered 'No/Uncertain' to the above
question, please continue with
question 5.

5)  Are you qualified as a librarian?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]

If you answered 'No' to the above question,
please go onto question 8.

If you answered 'Yes' to the above question,
please continue with question 6.

6)   Do you choose to be a library assistant, as
opposed to a librarian?
Yes  [   ]  - why?
No   [   ]  - why?

7)  Would you like a professional post as a
librarian?
Yes  [   ]  - why?
No   [   ]  - why?

8)  While you were growing up, to what extent
did you use the library?
One or more times a week  [   ]
Two or three times a month  [   ]
Once a month  [   ]
Once a year  [   ]
Less than once a year  [   ]
Not at all  [   ]

9)  On a scale of 1-5, to what extent were the
following reasons important to your choice of
becoming a library assistant? ('1' being NOT AT
ALL, '5' being VERY IMPORTANT).  Enter the
appropriate number (1-5) next to each
description.
career change  [   ]
importance of information in society  [   ]
enjoy the work  [   ]
opportunities for advancement  [   ]
opportunities to serve the community  [   ]
library work experience  [   ]
to earn a living  [   ]
other  [   ]

10)  Would you say that you chose to become a
library assistant?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]

11)  What is your job title?



12)  When asked what you do for a living by
strangers, how do you describe yourself?



13)  On a scale of 1-5, to what extent do you
think the following descriptions characterise
LIS work? ('1' being NOT AT ALL, '5' being VERY
MUCH).  Enter the appropriate number (1-5) next
to each description.
challenging  [   ]
creative  [   ]
dynamic  [   ]
exciting  [   ]
flexible  [   ]
rewarding  [   ]
stressful  [   ]
technological  [   ]


14)  Briefly, what do you most enjoy about being
a library assistant?







15)  Briefly, what do you least enjoy about
being a library assistant?





16)  On a scale of 1-5, to what extent were the
following important to your choice of LIS work?
('1' being NOT AT ALL, '5' being VERY
IMPORTANT).  Enter the appropriate number (1-5)
next to each description.
benefits (insurance/retirement)  [   ]
future changes  [   ]
professional image  [   ]
intellectual opportunities  [   ]
job security  [   ]
salary  [   ]
status [   ]
variety of positions  [   ]

17)  On a scale of 1-5, to what extent do you
see the following being part of the future role
of the academic library assistant? ('1' being
NOT AT ALL, '5' being VERY MUCH).  Enter the
appropriate number (1-5) next to each
description.
issue desk duties (issue/return/renew)  [   ]
cataloguing  [   ]
database design  [   ]
classifying  [   ]
acquisitions  [   ]
web page design  [   ]
inter library loans  [   ]
providing library user education  [   ]
faculty liaison officers  [   ]
team projects incorporating different levels of
staff [   ]
teaching  [   ]

18)  Do you anticipate LIS work will be your primary occupational activity for
the rest of your life?
Yes  [   ]
No   [   ]
Uncertain  [   ]

19)  If you plan to leave/or have already left the library  - what are your
primary reasons?



20)  If you have any other comments to make in response to any of the above,
please do so below.  Thank you.




Again please DO NOT automatically respond to
this message.  Please send your replies to:
[log in to unmask]


Thank you for taking the time to complete this
questionnaire.





Sam Hughes
Subject Librarian - Health & Textiles
Eagle Learning Support Centre
Bolton Institute
Deane Road
Bolton
BL3 5AB

Tel: 01204 903093
Fax: 01204 903160
Email: [log in to unmask]