WHAT IMPRESSIONS DO YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OF LIBRARIANSHIP AS A CAREER?

Abstract

This study aimed to discover young people's impressions of librarianship as a career, what barriers there are to young people entering the profession, and what appeals to them about librarianship. Two questionnaires were used: the first to a sample of young people aged 18 to 24, who were making choices about their professional futures; the second to MA Librarianship students at the University of Sheffield who had already chosen librarianship as their career. The questionnaires asked about impressions of librarianship as a career and perceived barriers to entering the profession. It was found that both a lack of understanding of what the role of a librarian entails, and a lack of awareness of librarianship as a professional career choice resulted in young people not wanting to become librarians. The MA students identified a number of barriers to young people entering the profession and suggested possible solutions to the situation. Due to young people's impressions of librarianship, it is not a career that appeals to them. Librarians should promote their roles in order that misconceptions can be eradicated; increased understanding may lead to young people finding it a more appealing career choice.