minding the gap_ala2010
Post on 17-May-2015
406 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
MINDING THE GAPGenerational Differences in Attitudes toward Reference
Service in Academic Libraries
Eric JenningsHans KishelJill Markgraf
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Who we are:•Reference & Instruction Librarians•1 Boomer•1 Gen Y•1 Gen X
the forgotten middle child
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
In this session:
•The changing library workforce
•What we did
•Assumptions and survey results
•Areas for further exploration
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The changing library workforce
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Planning for 2015: The Recent History and Future Supply of Librarians (2009 June). ALA Office for Research & Statistics, http://www.ala.org/ala/research/librarystaffstats/recruitment/Librarians_supply_demog_analys.pdf
Age distribution of librarians
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Number of retirements: •1995-2005: 14,800
•2005-2015 (projected) : 28,200
•Increase of 52%
Planning for 2015: The Recent History and Future Supply of Librarians (2009 June). ALA Office for Research & Statistics, http://www.ala.org/ala/research/librarystaffstats/recruitment/Librarians_supply_demog_analys.pdf
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Who are you?
Gen Z Gen Y (millennial)
Gen X Boomer Silent
Born… after 1988 1979-88 1965-78 1944-64 Before 1944
Age ≤21 22-31 32-45 46-66 66+
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Generations defined
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
•Random sample of 200 U.S. college/university libraries from Carnegie classifications•Email sent to every library staff member we could identify at those institutions. •30 question online survey•Sent out 7000 emails, almost 1000 responded, for a response rate of 14%
What we did:
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Gen Z Gen Y (millennial)
Gen X Boomer Silent
Born… after 1988
1979-88 1965-78
1944-64 Before 1944
Responding 10 137 289 541 20
Our sample:
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Survey respondents by gender
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
“” MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Younger librarians are more willing to change and adapt; older, more established professionals often want to maintain the status quo.Quoted in Gordon, Rachel Singer. The Nextgen Librarian’s Survival Guide, 2006, p. 71
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The reference desk is obsolete and should be dismantled altogether
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Reference desk should be dismantled
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The reference desk is an essential service point that works well and should remain largely unchanged.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Reference desk should remain unchanged
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The reference desk should be merged with other service points in the library, such as the Circulation Desk and offer tiered levels of service.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Reference desk should be merged with other service points
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The print reference collection is becoming obsolete and should be dismantled altogether.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Print reference collection should be dismantled
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Academic libraries should begin circulating most or all print reference resources.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Print reference collection should be circulated
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
“”MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
I don't think age has anything todo with adopting (and adapting to) new technologies, particularly when it'sinformation professionals we're talking about.Marydee Ojala, “Talk About My Generation,” Online. July/August 2005, p. 5
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
The reference collection should be transformed into an online only collection.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Reference collection should be online only
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Wikipedia is an appropriate resource to use in the provision of reference service.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Wikipedia is an appropriate resource
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Virtual reference services (chat, IM, Skype, etc.) are effective.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Virtual reference services are effective
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Our assumption:
Younger librarians are less entrenched in traditional librarian roles.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Reference librarians should have some responsibilities in the following areas…
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Reference librarians should have responsibilities in…
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
“” MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Nearly two-thirds of executives at large companies were most concerned about losing Gen Y employees, while less than half of them had similar concerns about losing Gen Xers…Irvine, Martha. “Recession intensifies GenX discontent at work,” USAToday, http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2009-11-16-generation-x-jobs_N.htm
“ ”MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Only about 37% of Gen Xers said they planned to stay in their current jobs after the recession ends, compared with 44% of Gen Yers, 50% of baby boomers and 52% of senior citizen workers Irvine, Martha. “Recession intensifies GenX discontent at work,” USAToday, http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2009-11-16-generation-x-jobs_N.htm
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP Career plans, 3-5 years
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
“”MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Librarians who have been in their jobs for a while do not seem as open to new ideas and new people.Quoted in Gordon, Rachel Singer. The Nextgen Librarian’s Survival Guide, 2006, p 108
“ ” MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
I see younger folks with their ideas set in stone; they are very inflexible, and this is not a good thing.Quoted in Gordon, Rachel Singer. The Nextgen Librarian’s Survival Guide, 2006, p 109.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Strength of Convictions
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Assumptions about generations in the workforce
“”MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
“NextGen librarians tend to be more narrowly focused. They seem to be much more interested in machines than in public serviceQuoted in Gordon, Rachel Singer. The Nextgen Librarian’s Survival Guide, 2006, p 109
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
What % of their time should individual reference librarians be staffing the reference desk ?
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP % of time individual reference librarians should staff the reference desk
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
What % of the reference desk’s open hours should be staffed by a librarian?
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP % of the ref. desk’s hours that should be staffed by a librarian
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Characteristics of Academic Reference Librarians Ranked by Importance
1. Interpersonal comm. skills
2. Adaptability/flexibility
3. Knowledge of online sources
4. Teaching skills
5. Knowledge of print ref.
6. Curiosity
7. Technology skills
8. Knowledge of disciplines
9. Creativity
10. Empathy
11. New and emerging tech.
12. Outgoing personality
13. Written communication skills
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Characteristics of Academic Reference Librarians Ranked by Importance
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
Conclusions•Generational differences in attitudes not nearly as dramatic as assumed.
•Gen Y very supportive of traditional library services and roles.
•Resistance to change (in reference service) cannot be attributed to age.
•Interpersonal and “soft” skills are valued over technical ones.
MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP
•Do attitudinal differences lie elsewhere? (i.e. gender, position…)
•Does culture of librarianship override generational differences?
•Explore why people feel the way they do.
•Longitudinal studies
Further study:
“MINDING THE GAP MINDING THE GAP ”
For all that’s been written, discussed, debated and dissected concerning the issues today’s organizations face regarding the great “generational divide,” … multigenerational workforces are more united than not.Manhertz, Huntley, Jr., “The Generational Divide: Crucial Consideration or Trivial Hype?” Achieveglobal report, http://www.achieveglobal.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=%2BrjyvkB%2Bvgo%3D&tabid=78&mid=725 [2009]
Thank you for attendingEric Jennings
Hans Kishel
Jill Markgraf
top related