There's an interesting discussion about academic library salaries on lis-link
at the moment which started today. Here's one of the messages (forwarded with
the author's permission!). Perhaps those of you who aren't members of lis-link
might want to look at the archives tomorrow or the next day to see what's been
said. Or join lis-link and contribute!
(archives are at http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/lis-link/archive.html)
Lesha
--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 13:38:16 -0000
From: paul coulson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Library Vacancy Salaries
Sender: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: paul coulson <[log in to unmask]>
Message-ID: <002001bf3b38$29210360$9e45883e@default>
Apologies in advance if this message appears overly whining in tone.
I felt compelled to affirm Sandie's viewpoint regarding salary levels
particularly within academic libraries, and would like to offer the
perspective of one such information graduate, which may be of some interest.
Having recently achieved a Masters with Distinction in information and
library management I am now searching for a job within the information
sphere, and have been appalled by the salaries offered by academic libraries
for apparently skilled, 'professional' posts. Having learnt a wide range of
skills and developed a passion for information work I am ambitious and eager
to find challenging a position, and began the course hoping to find
employment in an academic library environment. The renumeration offered for
many such positions however when compared with similar vacancies in the
commercial and industrial sectors is lamentable, and I find increasingly
that I, like many of my graduate colleagues, am turning towards the
corporate sector for employment. Money, of course, is not everything and job
satisfaction, the challenges and nature of the work involved amongst other
factors I agree are more important: nonetheless when looking at Library
Appointments or other job vacancies one can only assess on a superficial
level and on average the corporate situations vacant offer far superior
packages. Reasonable pay levels in such adverts can easily be perceived as
being offered by an organisation who has more respect and places more value
in information work than do their academic equivalent.
In this harsh climate in which we live ideals are nice but do not pay the
gas bill, and such being the case highly skilled and eager information
graduates are looking for realistic renumeration in the face of housing,
large debts, bills and other accrued costs. It should be remembered that at
the end of the day librarianship is more an occupation than a vocation
(although admittedly I know more than one librarian for whom it would appear
otherwise).
Naturally I accept that salaries can only reflect the budgets of libraries
increasingly threatened by their parent institutions, but would finish will
two points:
1. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth takes place within library discussion
concerning the failure of the wider populous to perceive and accept
librarianship as a true profession like that of law, medicine or teaching.
While the prospective merging of the LA and IIS to offer a unified voice is
encouraging, it can be argued that a group of jobs is perceived as a
profession when it consists of well qualified people with reasonable
salaries. The professional nature of most librarians is beyond doubt,
however in truth is the population to seriously consider an information
worker 'a professional' when his/her pay level equates with that to be
earned working unskilled in a call centre or such?
2. At the very time when the traditional role and position of authority
occupied by academic libraries is under threat from a host of other
information providers the 'bright young things' graduating with information
qualifications are being turned, or rather drawn away, by the lure of
greater rewards and the perceived small value academic libraries place on
these eager graduates (a perception formed by unrealistic, and almost
insulting wages). Not only are academic libraries losing the skills, drive
and fresh enthusiasm these young professionals have to offer in spades, they
are are also losing great potential advocates and articulate fighters for
the academic library cause into the next century.
I would be interested to hear what other opinions on this issue,
Soapbox dismounted,
Graham Coulson.
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4 The Grange
Nedderton
Northumberland
NE22 6BQ
01670 828477
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
**Excellent communication skills, ambitious, and available for interview at
any time!**
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-----Original Message-----
From: Nicholson Sandie <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 30 November 1999 11:10
Subject: FW: Library Vacancy
>I send this on to the list as well, because I really think that we as a
>profession, need to be addressing this issue.
>
>Sandie
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nicholson Sandie
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 11:03 AM
>> To: 'Eric Loveridge'
>> Subject: RE: Library Vacancy
>>
>> I am astonished at the appalling money being offered for this position.
>> It
>> requires a library qualification, appropriate experience and clearly
>> entails
>> considerable responsibility. Our one non-professional Information
>> Assistant,
>> with one year's experience and a matriculation exemption (She and I are
>> both
>> South Africans) earns 10 pounds an hour. Here a graduate is asked to
work
>> for between stlg6.83 - stlg9.48 per hour!!
>>
>> Until the Academic and Public services start offering decent remuneration
>> to
>> information workers, a lot of us are going to be lost to the corporate
>> world, where our skills are highly valued and our pay packages are clear
>> indications of such.
>>
>> Sandie Nicholson
>> Information Officer
>> _________________________________________________________________________
>> platform seven
>> 7th Floor Telephone: +44 171 714 8291
>> 1-2 Finsbury Square Fax: +44 171 714 8246
>> London EC2A 1AA Reception: +44 171 714 8306
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Eric Loveridge [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 10:29 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Library Vacancy
>>
>> Please find below vacancy details from De Montfort University:
>>
>> Division of Learning Development
>> Scraptoft/Charles Frears Campus, Leicester
>>
>> Temporary Assistant Librarian(s) - Evening Weekend
>> stlg6.83 - stlg9.48 per hour (min. for Chartered Librarians stlg7.83)
>>
>> Where appropriate additional payment will be made in respect of
>> non-standard hours working.
>>
>> The library service has received additional funding for the remainder
>> of the academic year to extend opening hours at the Scraptoft and
>> Charles Frears libraries in Leicester. A decision on further funding
>> will be made next year.
>>
>> These additional hours are:
>>
>> Charles Frears: Monday to Thursday 17.30 - 20.00 until end July 2000
>> Scraptoft: Saturday 10.00 - 16.00, Sunday 12.00 - 16.00 until June
>> 2000
>>
>> Staffing will consist of one professional librarian and one
>> Information Assistant. Applications for the post of Assistant
>> Librarian should be from qualified librarians or equivalent, with
>> library experience. A relevant degree and experience of HE or Health
>> Service library work would be desirable. The successful applicant
>> will be in charge of the library during these hours and will be
>> expected to assist users with their information requirements and
>> assist with other duties as necessary.
>>
>> Application forms and further details can be obtained from Human
>> Resources Team, Eric Wood Building, Leicester LE1 9BH. Tel: 0116
>> 2551551 ext. 6433. Please quote the post reference number: 1519.
>>
>> The closing date for applications is 10/12/99.
>>
>> Eric Loveridge
>> Library Services Manager - Leicester
>> Tel: 0115 2577037
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
--- End Forwarded Message ---
--
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Lesha Fossey
Assistant Librarian, Circulation Services
University of Exeter
Stocker Road TEL: 01392 263867
Exeter FAX: 01392 263871
EX4 4PT E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]
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