Libraries of the 21st century are facing different challenges and opportunities in meeting the information needs of a new generation of users. It is important to ensure that libraries have the right number of people with the right skills and attributes in the right place at the right time. There are a number of issues that need to be considered to achieve this.
This paper summarises the key findings from research in to the trends and issues affecting workforce planning in New Zealand university libraries. This is not unique to New Zealand and other locations may benefit from these findings.
First and foremost it is essential to recruit and retain staff who are skilled and innovative as well as flexible and adaptable. The staff we recruit should also reflect the increasingly transnational, diverse users we serve.
Alongside the need for new and talented staff are the concerns around the retirement of experienced staff over the next decade. This is a double-edged sword as many will retire but on the other hand many older people are working longer. This requires the fostering of knowledge transfer opportunities in both directions and career development pathways for younger staff.
Gill Barthorpe is Associate University Librarian, Collection Services at AUT University Library in Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to her appointment to this position in April 2009 she was the Business Development Manager at the AUT Library from 2001 – 2009. Her time in this role dealing with HR matters sparked an interest in staff development and more particularly workforce planning which led to this being the research topic for her recently completed MBus dissertation.
She is also the Web Manager for the IATUL website and was a member of the 2008 Conference committee for the Auckland conference.
RT @ramblinglib: #p431 #iatul2012 (did I hear that right?) There is a book in the library that document how MLIS … tmi.me/reAjN
— Phoebe Lim Choon Lan (@PhoebeLimCL) June 7, 2012
Food for thought: how do we then attract the younger generation to join the library profession? #iatul2012 #P431
— IATUL 2012 (@iatul2012) June 7, 2012
#p431 #iatul2012 me think aloud: how many jobs out there are “sexy” & “great pay”? I think grass is not necc greener on other side 🙂
— Ivan Chew (@ramblinglib) June 7, 2012
#p431 #iatul2012 NZ uni libraries currently reviewing if a Masters is necc the min qualification for librarianship (did I hear that right?)
— Ivan Chew (@ramblinglib) June 7, 2012
#p431 #iatul2012 how many children, when asked, say they want to be librarians when they grow up?
— Phoebe Lim Choon Lan (@PhoebeLimCL) June 7, 2012
#p431 #iatul2012 “librarianship don’t have a reputation on being a sexy job nor is the pay that great”
— Ivan Chew (@ramblinglib) June 7, 2012
Workforce planning issues – aging work force a major concern #iatul2012 #P431
— IATUL 2012 (@iatul2012) June 7, 2012
#P431 #NZ uni library managers interviewed did not (t that time) have a workforce plan
— Ivan Chew (@ramblinglib) June 7, 2012
#p431 #iatul2012 workforce planning and succession planning is strategic.
— Phoebe Lim Choon Lan (@PhoebeLimCL) June 7, 2012
Library services trend: physical to virtual world but physical library spaces still important #iatul2012 #P431
— IATUL 2012 (@iatul2012) June 7, 2012
#P431 #iatul2012 NZ has population of 4.4m; they have 8 universities (we have 5m & almost 5 uni?)
— Ivan Chew (@ramblinglib) June 7, 2012
There are only 8 universities in New Zealand!#iatul2012 #P431
— IATUL 2012 (@iatul2012) June 7, 2012