Serendipity!

Even with all the sophisticated searching methods we use, sometimes you find that perfect article by browsing or just out of luck. Here's a story about my own seredipitious experience with finding an interesting journal article...

I was minding my own business Saturday morning on my way to take Allison to her Ballet and Gymnastics classes. I decided to check the mail on the way out and admist the coupon mailers and junk, I found my quarterly issue of the journal College and Research Libraries.

While Allison was happily dancing in ballet class I was browsing the journal. One of the articles had my name on it "The Blended Librarian: A Job Announcement Analysis of the Newly Emerging Position of Instructional Design Librarian". Earlier this semester when we were looking at position descriptions I decided that I'd like to work as an instructional designer in an academic library. Well, this analysis of position descriptions was good reading for me as I start the Ed. Tech program.

Here's a brief recap of the article:

Methodology:
Positions advertisements in several library and academic journals/sites were analyzed for the years 1999-2004. They found 10 advertisements fitting the criteria.

Results:

Position Qualifications

• 10 ads either required or preferred the MLIS from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited institution.
• 6 ads listed another graduate degree (Education, IDT, etc.) as acceptable in place of the MLIS.
• 3 ads either preferred or required either a 2nd degree in Education or IDT or course work in IDT.
• Most of the ads required IDT skills and experience, but not a specific degree.

Position Duties:

• Creating web/online instructional materials 10/10 ads
• Library Instructional programs 6/10 ads
• Assessment 6/10 ads
• Reference 5/10 ads
• Information Literacy 4/10ads
• Liaison to departments 3/10 ads
• ID 2/10 ads
• Project Management 1/10 ads
• Collection Development 2/10 ads

Mary's Discussion Points:

I was surprised that a second degree in Ed. Tech was only required or preferred in 3/10 of the job descriptions. I would think that to perform the job duties well, an Ed. Tech/IDT degree would be necessary. I think a librarian with both the MLIS and IDT degree would be perfectly suited for such positions as you would have both the library and ed. tech perspectives.

Questions to Ponder:

Do you think an effective ID Librarian would need the MLIS or ID degree or both?
Do you think libraries need ID librarians?
What role do you think an ID librarian would have in the library?
Would having an ID librarian improve the quality of information literacy instruction?

So, what does this mean for me. It looks like with the Ed. Tech Ed.S. I'm working on and the MLIS I already have I'll be more than competitive for Instructional Design Librarian positions.