Bibliotekariens nya arbetsmarknad
The purpose of this thesis is to examine why graduates in librarian- and information science are employed by private companies. An initial explanation could be the influence of information technology and its impact on the librarian. A second factor relates to how employers regard the librarian outside the confines of the traditional labour market. The study is primarily based upon qualitative interviews with representatives of Swedish companies who have employed librarians since 1993, the year that the education achieved third level academic recognition. Theoretically we relied upon Manuel Castells discussion on the rise of the information society and its influence on companies and the labour market. The study generates four major results. First of all, a growing flow of information directing company focuses on the very core business. The competence of the librarian in maintaining and updating the information base that the company generates in addition to knowledge of the core business enhances the librarians status vis a vis employers. Secondly, knowledge of and ability to structure large bodies of information coherently is a feature which librarians share with other work categories, therefore accentuating the importance for the individual librarian to possess initiative and communication skills sufficient to achieve success in the private sector. Thirdly, we see that employers are not always well informed as regards those skills which librarians have to offer. As a result prospective employers seldom headhunt this occupational group specifically. Furthermore marketing of librarian education at third level with regard to employers is non-existent. Developments within the labour market which are the fourth area of study show less clearly defined relationships between educational qualifications in certain disciplines and actual working roles. This results in major opportunities for many categories of graduates, including librarians in the labour market when endeavouring to gain employment within new fields. However, it would appear that this trend has not resulted in a more positive attitude by employers with regard to the desirability of librarians as employees within the private sector.